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Auxiliary/Reserve Police
Auxiliary Constables and Reserve Constables are terms used across Canada to describe the (primarily unpaid) volunteer police officers that many police services have as part of their organization.
The RCMP uses the term Auxiliary in describing their volunteer officers, as does some independent municipal, regional or provincial police services. However, many independent police services prefer the use of Reserve Constable to describe their volunteer officers.
Whether Auxiliary or Reserve Constable, they are supplemental to police service's full time sworn officer compliment. For the most part they assist in providing services to support community policing activities, special events, assist in general patrol with a full time officer, and in some cases, non enforcement traffic services.
In Canada, Auxiliary and Reserve Constables have limited authority and if in uniform they must be under the direct supervision of a full time sworn police officer.
Appointment as an Auxiliary or Reserve Constable is enabled by federal legislation, in the case of the RCMP, or a provincial Police Act in the case of independent municipal, regional or provincial police services. The legislation often refers to the appointment as that of a 'Special Constable', a term that is utilized to identify an officer with a specific level of enforcement authority and that is usually somewhat less than that of a fully sworn police officer.
One requirement to become an Auxiliary or Reserve Constable is that you live in the community that the police service has jurisdiction for. This does help build police-community relations in a significant way.
Training for Auxiliary and Reserve Constables is usually conducted by each individual police service and is based on provincial standards for training as designated through provincial legislation.
Some police services utilize their Auxiliary and Reserve programs as a recruiting tool to identify and secure officers who are interested in a career as a police officer.
The following provides general information on requirements to become an Auxiliary or Reserve Constable in Canada. For specific information please contact the police service in your community.
General Requirements:
- Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident (depending on police service) and of good character;
- Have a mature and responsible attitude;
- Be able to pass a security clearance at the required level;
- Have successfully completed high school or have equivalent work-related experience;
- Possess a valid driver’s license in the province in which you reside;
- Meet minimum fitness standards as set by the police service;
- Possess current certification in First Aid/CPR through a accredited training provider; and
- Do not have a personal and/or professional conflict of interest with the police service.
If you are interested in volunteering your time as a Reserve or Auxiliary Constable contact the police service in your community to see if they have an active program. If they do not have an Auxiliary or Reserve program in place, they will undoubtedly have a volunteer program to assist with community policing activities, special events or victim services.
The following are some links that will provide information on Auxiliary and Reserve Policing in Canada, the U.S. and the United Kingdom.
- The RCMP's page on Auxiliary Policing provides a brief overview of the background and role of the Auxiliary Program. More....
- This site is dedicated to providing information on the Police Special (Reserve) Constabulary in the United Kingdom. More....
RPOA - Reserve Police Officers Association (U.S.)
- This web site for Auxiliary, Reserve and Special Law Enforcement Officers is primarily U.S. focused and provides information on Reserve Police issues including training and upcoming events and a number of international links in Canada, the UK, Europe and Asia. More....
NRLO - National Reserve Law Officers Association (U.S.)
- This NRLO is U.S. based and has been serving Reserve/Auxiliary Officers since 1983 and provides on-line training among other information on this site. More....
