What does a Police Constable do?
A Police Constable’s exact duties depend on the law enforcement services they work for, as the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) focus on federal crimes and provincial/territorial Police Constables focus on crimes in their province or territory. Typically, Police Constables protect the public by detecting, investigating, and preventing crimes. They also respond to 911 calls for police service and provide emergency aid. If they witness a crime while they are patrolling, they may write a citation or apprehend the suspect and transport them to jail. To keep their supervisors up-to-date, they have to prepare accurate reports of their daily activities.
Police Constable skills and qualifications
Police Constables serve the public and keep them safe. To do so successfully, they need the following prerequisite skills and qualifications:
- Strong interpersonal skills
- Ability to work well under pressure
- Excellent conflict resolution skills
- Knowledge of municipal, provincial/territorial, and federal law
- Great written and verbal communication skills
- Physical condition that meets their job requirements
- Able to remain calm and empathetic in stressful situations
- Strong analytical thinking skills
- Pass an extensive background check
Police Constable experience requirements
Police Constables receive three to six months of training from their employer before starting their job, so no prior experience in the field is necessary for candidates. However, Police Constable candidates must meet set psychological and physical standards by passing agility, fitness, vision, hearing, strength, and psychological tests. You may conduct these tests yourself or require formal results from recent evaluations.
Police Constable education and training requirements
Police Constable candidates must have a high school diploma or GED. You may require candidates to have a college or university degree in law, security, social sciences, or a similar field. Many colleges in Canada offer a Police Foundations program which you may look for on resumes. You may also require candidates to have a driver’s license with no restrictions or demerit points to operate a law enforcement vehicle. Current certification in standard CPR and first aid is mandatory for candidates.
Job salary expectations
According to Indeed Salaries, the average salary for a Police Constable in Canada is $73,372 per year. This salary varies based on the employer, experience, and location.
Job description samples for similar positions
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Police Constable job description FAQs
What’s the difference between a Police Officer and Police Constable
Police Officer and Police Constable are both used in Canada depending on the law enforcement employer. Police Constable is the lowest rank in most provinces and territories, so the position is equivalent to a Police Officer. For example, the provincial police in Newfoundland refer to all Officers as Constable and the only position lower than a Constable in the RCMP is a Cadet.
What should I look for on a potential Police Constable’s resume?
As most employers do not require Police Constables to have prior work experience, when looking at potential Police Constable resumes, you should focus on the candidate’s educational background instead. Candidates with a post-secondary degree in a related field, such as law, social justice, or criminology, will have more relevant knowledge than candidates with a high school diploma or GED. Ideal candidates will have completed a police foundations program.
What qualities make a good Police Constable?
Police Constables must have a variety of qualities and skills to keep the public safe, but one of the most important qualities they should have is strong interpersonal skills. Community members want to know they can trust and respect Police Constables, so it’s important that potential candidates can build and maintain strong relationships. Having good interpersonal skills will also help Police Constables put people at ease when they are patrolling or arriving at emergency calls.
What interview questions should I ask a potential Police Constable?
Being a Police Constable is a hands-on job, so interviewing candidates can be tricky, especially as they typically do not need prior work experience. In the interview, focus on behavioural questions to determine how the candidate will handle conflict, solve problems, interact with the public, and work with a team. For example:
- How would you handle a hostile suspect?
- What strengths do you have that would make you a good Police Constable?
- Do you prefer to work independently or as part of a team?
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