boshwaggle

Hello are there any former UK officers now serving with RCMP? I am a UK officer and a Canadian citizen and myself and a colleague at my station in the same position as me are in the final stages of the RCMP process, are there any ex-UK officers who have joined RCMP recently who can comment on how RCMP compares to the UK police, if their experience is valued etc?

stewie_griffin

No experience of serving with the RCMP, but this documentary was on the other day:

http://www.cbc.ca/documentaries/docz...ire/index.html

I'm with the EPS and we sometimes encounter the RCMP on traffic stops/ arrests etc. They always seem impressed with the man/fire power we show up with, not to mention specialist units and air assets.

The future probably doesn't belong to the RCMP. I suspect (although I'm no expert) that more provinces, towns and cities will want their own police forces in the years ahead.

tim010

Can anyone else in the UK get that documentary to play. The link works fine but there is no video. I'm guessing it may be viewable only in Canada??

Tim

stewie_griffin

Works for me (in Canada). I can't get BBCIPlayer to work though, 'This is not available in your region'

tim010

Still don't work for me. I'm guessing it's region locked.

Tim

boshwaggle

doesn't play in UK. too bad looks very interesting from the trailer which does play bizarrely.

I also see the training is very very paramilitary.lots of shouting and drill.

dboy

Hi. I'm a Brit in the RCMP (Major Crime - Burnaby), although I was not a copper in the UK. The RCMP is an odd organization, perhaps even a little dysfunctional, less so in BC, and is run very differently from region to region. In BC we are the biggest police force with something like 9,000 employees - over a third of the entire force. The Province is split into 4 districts, the largest being the Lower Mainland (Metro Vancouver). Policing in metro Vancouver is like working for a large municipal force with different precincts (around 3000 employees I think and is the largest police entity) - even municipal forces are integrated and share the same computer/radio systems etc. For instance Surrey, BC Detachment (biggest detachment in the country with around 600 members) has twice as many members than all of Manitoba combined. We are the ones with air services here and enough members to tackle complex investigations like Picton or the Surrey 6 homicides. Outside of metro Vancouver, the RCMP are again largely regulated to smaller, rural postings.

Areas like Montreal or Ontario have a lot of members who have spent years in policy units etc. A colleague of mine recently transferred to Montreal and works with guys with 10 years who have never made an arrest! I don't see these guys as real coppers - they are the bureaucratic side of the force - unfortunately they are creating policy that they have no place in creating.

Outside of Metro Vancouver, policing is largely restricted to small town, rural policing with some specialized provincial and federal units for support. Many of the guys posed to rural areas, especially isolated ones, tend to be right out of Depot Division and there is a problem with getting seasoned members to go to these areas.

Definitely the most experienced and well trained members are in the metro Vancouver area and are exposed to just about anything you can imagine. A typical Metro Vancouver detachment will have front line response policing, traffic services, criminal intelligence, drug units, robbery/ bne, GIS (CID), major crime etc. Ident, dogs and ERT are shared provincial assets, with members from those units based out of local detachments. Fresh homicides are tackled by IHIT (Homicide Investigation Team) which is a metro resource - the same set up for gangs through the Gang Task Force. We also have numerous support sections that work out of head quarters - such as the undercover unit, interview and interrogation team, behaviourial sciences, proceeds of crime, organized crime, legal applications, witness and source protection, air services, national security enforcement and other units. Many of these units are made up of RCMP and municipal members.

At present there is no union in the RCMP (may change though). I can only speak for Metro Vancouver but experience and ability are what carry the day here, not time in. Given the opportunities here there are lots of options - mobility of guys through various detachments and units tends to break down the old boys club and I find the RCMP in E Division is very progressive in this regard. Members tend to be put where their experience and ability best serves the outfit. Guys with previous experience don't tend to stay in response policing for very long (unless they want to).

Unlike other provinces where the RCMP has a limited presence, especially in larger urban areas, there are lots of opportunities in Metro Vancouver for advancement or a move to specialized units. We actually have more guys coming over here from Muni forces due to the opportunities. I don't know any that went the other way, with the exception of a couple of guys who wen CPS and Peel Regional to get back home . Downside with Metro Vancouver is the cost of living.

The RCMP has traditionally been a rural force, much like the OPP. However, that's not the case in Metro Vancouver and at times we are completely at odds with Ottawa (national headquarters) who is completely out of touch with what we do here. I do think a larger metro force would have a number of benefits, but i doubt it will ever happen due to financial constraints.

Personally if i were looking at policing outside of BC I would be looking at the larger municipal forces other the RCMP, due to more opportunities unless small town or rural policing is appealing. If living in the Metro Vancouver area, I think there is far more diversity and opportunities here with the RCMP, plus the ability to live in cheaper areas throughout the region.

Good luck!

boshwaggle

thanks, very insightful and useful knowledge, I had heard Surrey was the most active detachment, and you confirm that. I look forward to hopefully finding out more.

dboy

No worries. I actually was speaking with my partner who worked in Surrey and I was surprised to hear that it's closer to 750 members (not including civilians) in Surrey (it was only 450 when I joined the RCMP) - and if you include regional units based out of the detachment more like 850. Plus E Div has most intergrated units now out of surrey which to put it into perspective is something like a total of 1400 - 1500 cops in surrey - more than the VPD.

Where in Canada are you hoping to get posted to?

PM me if you have any questions

boshwaggle

I would be hoping to get posted to Ontario, I have heard that it is now possible to get posted to one's "home" detachment, even ON, whereas before it was very difficult.

I know of some recent applicants who have got their first pick of location, I believe due to the shortages.

If you hear anything different please let me know.

I did consider other forces but the RCMP is the only force that will accept me without having laser surgery on my eyes, and also being federal I believe has very good benefits and career path.

dboy

The force tries to put people where they want to go but it depends where. As noted, BC has over a third of the force so easier to get there than elsewhere. Nova Scotia not so much so.

Ontario would mean being assigned either to Pearson Airport or a federal unit - i have a buddy who works CFSEU (Combined forces special enforcement unit) which is organised crime, there is also guns and gangs, proceeds of crime, national security etc

The RCMP is a good employer. Wages and benefits are good (there's not much difference with most forces in Canada). Good pension (can retire at 20 years) and benefits for life. As i noted though, depending on where you are and what you want to do, will have an impact on career. Not too sure about Ontario but there's no contract policing (detachment based policing in small towns) since they have the OPP.

Rae reckons he knows people forced to transfer to isolated areas out of Alb. I've personally never heard of this in E Div and have been a member for 11 years - frankly i'd quit and the forces knows it . the exception would be going to a limited duration post where you know going in that you can't stay for longer than 3-5 years. This only applies to contract policing.

There were some serious shortages for a while, due to a hiring freeze of 5 years back in the mid 90's, and a lot of retirements now plus expansion in certain regions, especially BC. I heard that they are catching up though.

boshwaggle

Thanks all sound advice fromn someone who knows the score. I know in Pearson the patrolling is now done by Peel Region but I think RCMP have a special branch/CTU presence behind the scenes. I also know they have an Ottawa detachment for the Parliament and also I believe a presence in Montreal.

I am hoping my UK experience may open a few doors, and they do seem a world class organisation. I do know though that Depot is very tough physically, lots of running and shouting.

A friend once said it was like a cross between marine boot camp and law college, they even have the regulation creases on bedsheets and laying out exactly of items in wardrobes in recruit bedrooms, army style.

rae

i don't 'reckon' i know. i'll name one of them if you like if you really can't believe me, though why you would think i would make something up like this i really don't know. Malcolm Ransomir worked K div in edmonton. There are 3 others presently with EPS. There is one other in the St Albert detachment who lives close by who is also in the midst of transfering to EPS due to enforced moves.
Now i don't know all the ins and outs, i have never thought to question it so deeply, when someone tells me they have left because an upcoming move to the wilds was being pressed on them i just believe them, why would they make it up?

dboy

Have a bit of common sense rae and don't be posting a member's name and the fact he is ex rcmp and now eps on a public forum...I don't think he would appreciate that. I suggest you ask the mods to remove it.


You don't half jump to conclusions. Make things up? What are you on about? - I actually referenced your experience for the OP's benefit, who asked about home postings, letting him know that there are others on here that have some insight into forced transfers. As have repeatedly said, I can only comment on E Div and my personal dealings with them. i know very little about K Div or divisional policy surrounding transfers. I have never once heard of such transfers here - locally yes - say from Surrey to HQ or another local detachment but not to the middle of **** knows where? Why would I lie? I'd be gone in a flash too.

You really are reading too much into things. It seems you and I got off on the wrong foot - you always seem very antagonistic. Not a good quality for a dibble.

rae

and you always seem quick to intimate things, like using the word 'reckon'. last time this came up i shared my experience and you made it quite clear you did not believe me. this is my name its not hard to find out, malc does not mind as he finds your position odd too. if i'm antagonistic its because i am pointing out where you are wrong and you don't like it, not my issue.