RCMP recruitment is ongoing

by Heidi Riley

“As Canada’s national police force, the RCMP offers a great chance to experience different parts of the country and different communities,” says Constable Bonnie Hodder, Proactive Recruiter for PEI. “You could go from outport Newfoundland to a big city in British Columbia to a northern community. The RCMP is a door to a lifetime of adventure across this great country.”

Constable Bonnie Hodder has been a regular duty police officer with the RCMP for almost 16 years, and recently took over the role of Proactive Recruiter for the RCMP on PEI.

“We have more than 29,000 employees across the country. There are 17,000 police officers and 12,000 civilians who support operations of front-line policing,” says Constable Hodder.

The RCMP offers over 150 different types of career opportunities to choose from. After starting in General Duty Policing, they can specialize in Indigenous Community Policing, Forensic Identification, Drug Enforcement, Organized Crime Investigation, Financial Crime, Emergency Response Team, Integrated Border Enforcement, surveillance, undercover work, National Security, VIP Protective Service, Police Dog Services, Marine Services, International Peace Operations, Explosives Disposal, and many more.

“The strength of our police force lies in the people who want to serve and protect our communities. The RCMP recognizes that our employees are our greatest asset. It is a priority to recruit qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds to better reflect the diversity across Canada.

“Working in their community, police officers are role models and leaders in the community, providing advice and guidance to people from all walks of life. Officers work with troubled teams, the homeless, and concerned citizens to resolve a community problem, patrol highways, and much more.

“To be an RCMP police officer, you don’t need any previous training, an undergraduate degree, or any specialized courses. We will develop the skills you need through training and our field coaching program.”

Five basic requirements needed to apply to the RCMP

1. Canadian citizen or permanent resident for three of the last five years before applying.
2. Be proficient in English or French – you do not have to be bilingual. Additional languages are an asset.
3. Be at least 18 years old to apply and reach 19 by the time you graduate from training.
4. Have a valid unrestricted driver’s license.
5. Grade 12 or equivalent such as a GED certificate.

More requirements of the job

• be willing to carry a firearm and use it, if necessary, along with physical force
• be willing to spend 26 weeks at the training academy in Regina, Saskatchewan
• be willing to relocate anywhere in Canada
• be willing to do work shifts and on weekends and holidays

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“Something that would be a disqualifier from the application process would be a criminal record or charges pending in Canada or any other country.”

Application process

To apply for RCMP police officer or civilian jobs, start by visiting www.jobs.gc.ca and create a profile. You will need to create a GC Jobs account to complete your online application.

You will be required to answer questions based on the five basic requirements. If those requirements are met, you are screened into the next process, which is a series of tests, interviews, and assessments. That allows the RCMP to verify your skills and background to ensure you are suited to a career as a police officer.

Next, you must attend a mandatory virtual career presentation. Then you complete an online questionnaire assessing your skills, followed by a regular applicant questionnaire, a suitability interview, and a background check that goes back 10 years asking where you have worked and lived for the past 10 years. They check personal and work references, and you may get a polygraph test. The final stage is security clearance.

“The fitness test is also important. Because of the nature of being a police officer, they want you to be fit before you go to depot, because the training and courseload is stringent.

“The RCMP sets high standards for its police officers, so the selection process is stringent and demanding. It requires the applicant to be very diligent with responding to emails, setting up appointments and submitting paperwork in a timely fashion. If you delay, there will be delays in the processing as well.”

Cadet training

The next step is heading to Depot, the RCMP Academy in Regina, Saskatchewan. Each Monday, a troop of 32 cadets start, and that group will stay together for the six months of training. Training includes learning the criminal code, police defense tactics, firearms training, fitness, driving, department and tactics, drill, and scenario practice.

Benefits

Cadets must pay for hearing and vision tests; all other testing is paid for. At Depot, cadets receive free room and board, and Red Seal Chefs accommodate any dietary restrictions. Uniforms, training, insurance and travel to and from Depot are covered by the RCMP.

After graduation, costs associated with moving to your new detachment are also covered. There is an excellent pension plan and health and dental package for yourself and your family.

Salary

Cadets are paid $525 per week. After graduation, RCMP officers start at about $65,000 per year. After regular increases in the first three years, the salary reaches $106,000. Salary increases continue each year. Promotion and overtime also increase your pay.

Promotion and advancement

“There are lots of opportunities after starting in general duty policing. The great part about working with the RCMP is that all the training is paid for if you want to enhance your skills and specialize in a particular area such as drug enforcement, commercial crime, immigration and passport offices, forensics, major crime, surveillance, undercover work, witness protection, international peacekeeping, or indigenous policing.”

New officers could now be posted on PEI

One common barrier which prevents people from applying to the RCMP is being asked to move anywhere in Canada.

Now, applicants may have the option to come back home for their first posting. By making PEI their first posting choice during training, and as long as positions are available, there may be an opportunity to come back to the Island.

To find job postings for RCMP police officers, visit www.jobs.gc.ca Scroll down and click on Find government jobs. Go to Job Title and search RCMP police officer.

“There are no end dates to these postings, because we are always hiring,” says Constable Hodder.