If you’ve ever wanted to do community policing, now might be your chance.
West Shore RCMP is currently seeking applicants for their Auxiliary Constable Program.
According to Const. Jonathan McKinney of the community policing section of West Shore RCMP, “an auxiliary constable is essentially a volunteer police officer.
Their main role is to assist and maintain the functioning of Community Policing programs with their respective RCMP detachment,” and they are looking to hire another 16 to fill their compliment.
“Right now we have 20 Auxiliaries with almost 10 that are ready for careers in law enforcement and are involved in the application process.”
McKinney says they have several programs for which auxiliary officers are integral, such as Lock Out Auto Crime, Block Watch, Speed Watch and Cell Watch. They also attend other special events that happen on the West Shore to help police festivities like Rock the Shores, the Luxton Fair, Remembrance Day ceremonies and Halloween celebrations.
“We look for people of sound mind and body,” McKinney says of their ideal candidates for the role, “People who are willing to go the extra mile in their volunteer positions.”
If this sounds like an opportunity you would like to explore, there are a few guidelines and qualifications necessary.
Auxiliary officers must be 19 years of age or older Canadian Citizens, have a High School Diploma, possess a valid driver’s license, be willing to provide a minimum of 160 volunteer hours per year, and attend 90 hours of classroom training and 40 hours of additional training outside the classroom on officer safety techniques.
Anyone interested who meets these criteria can attend the information session being held March 2 at the West Shore RCMP Detachment at 5:30 p.m. or stop by the detachment to pick up an application from the front counter.
Applications must be submitted by March 6, and for more information, contact McKinney at jonathan.mckinney@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.