Police ranks in Canada explained
The police in Canada's ranks differ according to the different police forces and depend on different laws at the federal, provincial, and municipal levels.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
The rank system of the RCMP is partly a result of their origin as a paramilitary force. Upon its founding on February 1, 1920, the RCMP adopted the rank insignia of the Canadian Army (which in turn came from the British Army), which is almost identical to that of the current Canadian Army. Like in the military, the RCMP also has a distinction between commissioned and non-commissioned officers.[1] [2] The non-commissioned ranks are mostly based on military ranks (apart from constable). Non-commissioned officer ranks above staff sergeant resemble those that formerly existed in the Canadian Army but have since been replaced by warrant officers.[3] The commissioned officer ranks, by contrast, use a set of non-military titles that are often used in Commonwealth police services. The number of higher ranks, like chief superintendent and a deputy commissioner, has been added to and increased since the formation of the force, while the lower commissioned rank of sub-inspector has been dropped.
- Officers
- Others
Parliamentary Protective Service
See main article: Parliamentary Protective Service. The PPS uses a similar ranks system to the RCMP, with the director being a chief superintendent on secondment from the RCMP.[4] The officer-in-charge of PPS operations holds the rank of superintendent, team managers hold the rank of sergeant, supervisors hold the rank of corporal, and officers with no leadership responsibility hold the rank of constable.[5] [6]
Alberta
Alberta Sheriffs Branch
Peace officer ranks for the Alberta Sheriffs Branch:[7]
Calgary Police Service
See main article: Calgary Police Service.
Rank | Chief | Deputy chief | Superintendent | Inspector | Regimental sergeant major | Staff sergeant | Sergeant | Senior constable level 2 | Senior constable level 1 | Constable (classes 1 to 5) | Auxiliary (non-sworn) |
---|
Insignia | | | | | | | | | | No insignia | No insignia |
---|
Slip-on | Slip-on | Slip-on | Slip-on | Arm patch | Arm patch | Arm patch | Arm patch | Arm patch | |
Edmonton Police Service
See main article: Edmonton Police Service.
Lethbridge Police Service
British Columbia
British Columbia Sheriff Service
See main article: British Columbia Sheriff Service.
British Columbia Conservation Officer Service
See main article: British Columbia Conservation Officer Service.
British Columbia Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement
See main article: British Columbia Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement. No traditional ranking system outside of the ceremonial unit is in place.
- Departmental sergeant major -
- Troop sergeant - three chevrons
- - one chevron
Metro Vancouver Transit Police
See main article: Metro Vancouver Transit Police.
New Westminster Police Department
See main article: New Westminster Police Department.
Vancouver Police Department
See main article: Vancouver Police Department.
- Special municipal constable (traffic authority/jail guard/community safety personnel)
Manitoba
Winnipeg Police Service
See main article: Winnipeg Police Service.
Newfoundland and Labrador
Royal Newfoundland Constabulary
The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary is the provincial police service for the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.
High Sheriff of Newfoundland and Labrador
The Office of the High Sheriff of Newfoundland and Labrador is a provincial law enforcement agency in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Founded in 1729, it is the oldest law enforcement agency in Canada.
- High sheriff
- Sub-sheriff
- Deputy sheriff II
- Deputy sheriff I
- Bailiff
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia uses Sheriffs.[11]
Ontario
Ontario Provincial Police
Rank structure within the Ontario Provincial Police is paramilitary or quasi-military in nature, with several "non-commissioned" ranks leading to the "officer" ranks. Detective ranks fall laterally with the uniform ranks and is not a promotion above. Police constables in the OPP are uniquely known as "provincial constables."[12]
Historic now defunct ranks:
- Staff superintendent
- Divisional inspector
- Cadet
Toronto Police Service and York Regional Police
The rank insignia of the Toronto Police Service is similar to that used by police services elsewhere in Canada and in the United Kingdom, except that the usual "pips" are replaced by maple leaves. The St. Edward's Crown is found on insignia of staff sergeant, all superintendent ranks and all commanding officer ranks. The same rank insignia are also used by the York Regional Police.[13]
Ottawa Police Service
See main article: Ottawa Police Service.
Peel Regional Police
See main article: Peel Regional Police.
Kingston Police
See main article: Kingston Police.
Cobourg Police Service
See main article: Cobourg Police Service.
- Detective sergeant
- Detective
- Detective constable
Durham Regional Police Service
See main article: Durham Regional Police Service.
- Chief of police
- Deputy chief
- Chief administrative officer
- Superintendent
- Inspector
- Detective sergeant
- Staff sergeant
- Detective
- Sergeant
- Detective constable
- Senior constable
- Constable - 1st class
- Constable - 2nd class
- Constable - 3rd class
- Constable - 4th class
- Special court constables
Halton Regional Police Service
See main article: Halton Regional Police Service.
- Chief of police
- Deputy chief
- Superintendent
- Inspector
- Staff sergeant / detective sergeant
- Sergeant / detective
- Police constable / detective constable
Waterloo Regional Police Service
See main article: Waterloo Regional Police Service.
- Chief of police (crown and three maple leaves)
- Deputy chief (crown and two maple leaves)
- Superintendent (crown)
- Inspector (two maple leaves)
- Staff sergeant (crown and three chevrons)
- Sergeant (three chevrons)
- Constable
West Grey Police
See main article: West Grey Police.
- Chief of police
- Sergeant
- Constable
- Auxiliary constable
Quebec
Sûreté du Québec
See main article: Sûreté du Québec.
Ranks of Sûreté du Québec[14] [15] |
---|
General staff officers | Officers | Sub-Officers | Agents |
French: Directeur general | French: Directeur adjoint | French: [[Chief Inspector|Inspecteur chef]] | French: [[Inspector|Inspecteur]] | French: [[Police captain|Capitaine]] | French: [[Lieutenant]] | French: [[Sergeant|Sergent]] | French: [[Team Leader|Chef d'equipe]] | French: [[Constable|Agent]] |
---|
Director general of the SQ | Associate director | Chief inspector | Inspector | Captain | Lieutenant | Sergeant | Team leader | Constable |
---|
| | | | | | | | No insignia | |
Kativik Regional Police
Ranks and insignia of the Kativik Regional Police Force are similar to those of French: Sûreté du Québec.
Ranks of Kativik Regional Police |
---|
Officers | Sub-Officers | |
French: Chef | French: Chef deputé | French: [[Police captain|Capitaine]] | French: [[Sergeant|Sergent]] | French: [[Constable|Agent]] |
---|
Chief | Deputy Chief | Captain | Sergeant | Constable |
---|
| | | | No insignia | |
Service de police de la Ville de Montréal
Ranks of the French: [[Service de police de la Ville de Montréal]]:[16]
- Director (French: directeur)
- Associate director (French: directeur-adjoint)
- Assistant director (French: assistant-directeur)
- Chief inspector (French: inspecteur chef)
- Inspector (French: inspecteur)
- Commander (French: commandant de quartier)
- Lieutenant / detective lieutenant (French: lieutenant/French: lieutenant détective)
- Quarter sergeant (French: sergent de quartier)
- Sergeant / detective sergeant (French: sergent/French: sergent détective)
- Senior constable (French: agent sénior)
- Constable (French: agent)
Service de police de la Ville de Laval
See main article: Service de police de la Ville de Laval.
- Director (French: directeur)
- Associate director (French: directeur-adjoint)
- Assistant director (French: assistant-directeur)
- Chief inspector (French: inspecteur chef)
- Inspector (French: inspecteur)
- Lieutenant / detective lieutenant (French: lieutenant/French: lieutenant détective)
- Sergeant / detective sergeant (French: sergent/French: sergent détective)
- Constable (French: agent)
Service de police de la Ville de Québec
See main article: Service de police de la Ville de Quebec.
- Director (French: directeur)
- Associate director (French: directeur-adjoint)
- Lieutenant (French: lieutenant)
- Sergeant (French: sergent)
- Constable (French: agent)
Saskatchewan
Regina Police Service Ranks
The Regina Police Service Ranks is a police force in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan that has the following ranks:
- Chief of police
- Deputy chief
- Commissioner of police
- Assistant commissioner
- Inspector
- Sergeant
- Corporal
- Constable
Saskatoon Police Service
See main article: Saskatoon Police Service.
- Chief
- Deputy chief
- Superintendent
- Inspector
- Staff sergeant
- Sergeant
- Constable
- Special constable
Weyburn Police Service
The Weyburn Police Service is a Canadian Police Service in the Province of Saskatchewan.
- Chief constable
- Deputy chief
- Sergeant
- Corporal
- Constable
Specialized police services
Niagara Parks Police Service
See main article: Niagara Parks Police Service.
- Chief of police
- Inspector
- Sergeant
- Constable
- Communications officer
- Provincial offences officer
Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service
The Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service (NAPS) is the police agency for Nishnawbe-Aski Nation (NAN).
- Chief of police
- Deputy chief
- Regional inspector / regional commander
- Administrative sergeant
- Staff sergeant
- Sergeant (detective sergeant, road sergeant)
- Constable (detective constable)
Transit Enforcement Unit
The Transit Enforcement Unit (TEU; formerly known as the Special Constable Services Department) is the transit law enforcement and corporate security unit of the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) in Toronto.
- Chief special constable
- Staff sergeant (patrol / system security / fare inspection / training and logistical support)
- Sergeant (patrol / fare inspection / training and logistical support)
- Special constable (patrol)
- Protective services guard (security / revenue protection)
- Fare inspector (provincial offences officer)
University of Toronto Campus Community Police Service
See main article: University of Toronto Campus Community Police Service.
- Director
- Associate director
- Staff sergeant
- Sergeant (rank currently not in use)
- Corporal (platoon / shift supervisor)
- Special constables / constables (1st to 4th class)
- Building patroller (security guard, not designated special constables)
Auxiliary police
Different Canadian auxiliary police programs use various ranks, including some of the following:
Former police forces
Alberta Provincial Police
The Alberta Provincial Police was a police force active in Alberta, Canada, from 1917 until 1932.
- Commissioner
- Superintendent
- Assistant superintendent
- Inspector
- Detective
- Sergeant
- Constable
Newfoundland Ranger Force
The Newfoundland Ranger Force was the police force of the Dominion of Newfoundland before its confederation with Canada.
- Chief ranger
- Lieutenant
- Inspector
- Staff sergeant
- Sergeant
- Corporal
- Ranger 1st class
- Ranger 2nd class
- Ranger 3rd class
North-West Mounted Police
Notes and References
- Web site: Organizational structure - Royal Canadian Mounted Police . Rcmp-grc.gc.ca . 13 March 2017 . 3 May 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090228055017/http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/about-ausujet/organi-eng.htm . 28 February 2009 . dead .
- Web site: Ranks of the Force . Royal Canadian Mounted Police . 21 May 2015 . 25 January 2021.
- Web site: Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP¨) / Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) / Gendarmerie royale du Canada (GRC) . uniforminsignia.org.
- Web site: The Service . Parliamentary Protective Service.
- Web site: MEDIA AVAILABILITY - 2021 International Women's Day . Newswire . 1 March 2021.
- Web site: Agreement Between the Parliamentary Protective Service and the Senate Protective Service Employees Association . https://web.archive.org/web/20230320220559/https://sp.ltc.gov.on.ca/sites/mol/drs/ca/Public%20Administration/911-7640-20%20(909-0105).pdf . 20 March 2023.
- Web site: Sub 3 - Sheriff, Security and Transport . Chr.alberta.ca . 5 December 2014 . 3 May 2017.
- Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20100611015615/http://www.edmontonpolice.ca/~/media/EPS%20External/Files/Reports/2008AnnualReport.ashx . 2008 Edmonton Police Service and Edmonton Police Commission - Annual Report to the Community . 2008 . 11 June 2010.
- Web site: Deputy Sheriff Career Opportunities . gov.bc.ca . Government of British Columbia . 6 May 2018.
- Web site: The Job | Vancouver Police Department . Vancouver.ca . 3 May 2017.
- Web site: Sheriff Services . novascotia.ca.
- Web site: OPP Ranks . 27 July 2021.
- Web site: Toronto Police Service . Toronto Police Service :: To Serve and Protect . Torontopolice.on.ca . 3 May 2017.
- Web site: Archived copy . 5 June 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110706201447/http://www.sq.gouv.qc.ca/mission-et-services/publications/csp-information-guide-for-members.pdf . 6 July 2011 . dead .
- Web site: Grades à la Sûreté du Québec . fr . Ranks at the Sûreté du Québec . Sûreté du Québec . 25 January 2021.
- Web site: Discover police work - Service de Police de la Ville de Montréal . SPVM . 15 February 2017 . 3 May 2017.
- Web site: Uniform. January 25, 2021.
- Web site: Earliest Known Picture, 1874. January 25, 2021.
- Web site: Staff Sergeant in Undress, 1879. January 25, 2021.
- Web site: Sergeant-Major in Undress, 1890. January 25, 2021.
- Web site: Staff Sergeant in Full Dress, 1886. January 25, 2021.
- Web site: History and Uniform of the North West Mounted Police, 1873–1904. Jack L. Summers. Renee Chartrand. January 25, 2021.