Ontario Provincial Police: 2 New Changes To Recruitment

Last Updated On 27 April 2023, 10:10 AM EDT (Toronto Time)

On April 25th, 2023, the Ontario government announced new measures to increase police recruitment numbers.

These measures include the elimination of the post-secondary education required to be hired as an officer and the coverage of mandatory training costs.

Premier Doug Ford stated that the province needs more police officers to address the increasing number of major crimes, such as auto thefts, break-ins, and random acts of violence.

The changes aim to remove barriers that may prevent people with different life experiences from joining the police force.

The Community Safety and Policing Act 2019 will also be amended to make a high school diploma or equivalent sufficient education for the purpose of being hired as a police officer.

Currently, applicants to many municipal police services require a post-secondary education credit to be considered for employment as an officer.

Ontario will add 140 new police recruits in 2023 and 420 by the end of next year, with no post-secondary requirement to become an officer.

The province will cover tuition costs of approximately $20 million for the next three years, and every officer must complete 66 days of basic constable training at the Ontario Police College.

The average age of a cadet is in their late twenties.

Police Chiefs’s Response To Changes

The announcement was welcomed by several police chiefs in Ontario, including Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw. Chief Demkiw stated that the Toronto Police Service is having difficulty keeping up with the increasing demands of a growing city.

“Like police services across Canada, we are working hard to recruit, select, hire, and train new police constables.

But this takes time, and there are often barriers to getting new officers deployed and on the road,” he told reporters.

“We need support in recruiting and training and welcome the news from the province.”

The changes will potentially open the doors for many who may not have had the opportunity to apply for a police officer position due to the post-secondary education requirement.

With the coverage of mandatory training costs, it may provide an avenue for more individuals to enter into the profession.

Critics Raise Concerns About Elimination of Post-Secondary Education Requirement for Police Officer

While the Ontario government’s decision to eliminate the post-secondary education requirement for police officers has been welcomed by some, others have raised concerns about the potential consequences of lowering educational requirements for police officers.

One of the main concerns is that it may lead to a less qualified police force. NDP Leader Marit Stiles expressed concern about the “watering down of education requirements.”

She argued that the police force needs more support and training to perform their jobs properly, including critical thinking skills.

In response to these concerns, Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw stated that although a post-secondary education is beneficial, it is not necessarily the most important factor when hiring police officers.

“We look for life experience, we look for communication skills, we look for the ability to problem-solve and critically think, we look for good judgment, and the ability to work in a team environment.

These are things that are not necessarily taught in a post-secondary environment,” he said.

Another concern is that eliminating the post-secondary education requirement may create a perception that the police force is lowering its standards to fill vacancies.

This perception may undermine public confidence in the police and lead to a lack of trust in law enforcement. Furthermore, it may discourage those who have pursued higher education from applying for police officer positions.

The role of a police officer requires specialized training and education. Police officers are responsible for upholding the law, protecting citizens, and maintaining public order.

They require a diverse set of skills, including communication, problem-solving, decision-making, and critical thinking. Post-secondary education provides an opportunity to develop these skills and gain a deeper understanding of the law and its application.

Commenting on the importance of education for police officers, Michael Kempa, a professor at the University of Ottawa who specializes in policing, stated that “it’s not just a question of getting the job done. It’s a question of doing the job in a way that’s consistent with democratic values, the rule of law, and good policing practice.”

Municipal police forces are responsible for hiring police officers, but they are subject to budgets set out by local councils. There is no guarantee that there will be a hiring blitz, even with the proposed changes. Jon Reid, president of the Toronto Police Association, commented on the struggles of police services to hire police officers. “Whether it’s the years of anti-police rhetoric, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, or the recent increase in violence against police officers, we are not getting the numbers we need.”

The availability of funding is a crucial factor in police recruitment. Without sufficient funding, police forces may not be able to hire the number of officers needed to keep up with demand. In addition to funding for hiring, police forces require funding for training, equipment, and other resources necessary for effective policing.

Consequences of the changes

In conclusion, the Ontario government’s decision to eliminate the post-secondary education requirement for police officers and cover the costs of mandatory training is an attempt to address the issue of a shortage of police officers in the province.

The government’s announcement is aimed at removing barriers that may prevent people with different life experiences from joining the police force.

While some police chiefs have welcomed the changes, critics have expressed concern about the potential consequences of lowering educational requirements for police officers. It remains to be seen whether these changes will achieve their intended goals and how they will impact the quality of policing in Ontario.

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