RCMP looking for experienced officers to help fill out ranks

The RCMP is actively promoting its experienced officer program in an effort to fill some vacant positions on the Island. 

The experienced officer program allows police with a minimum of two years of experience in other forces to apply to the RCMP.

Cpl. Ellen Peters, proactive recruiter with the RCMP on P.E.I., said the program has been available for a while. For the last few months, the organization has been promoting it because there is a limited amount of time for officers who qualify for this program to apply to move here.

The change comes as the RCMP is in the midst of a major recruitment program. Last year, a board that advises RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme described RCMP recruitment as being in crisis.

Since then, the RCMP has reported a 92 per cent increase in applications. A spokesperson for the RCMP said that improvement is due to efforts including faster assessments, strategies to encourage applications from more diverse groups, and removing barriers to applying. Despite all that, recruitment remains a challenge.

Currently, the vacancy rate of the force on P.E.I is at seven per cent, or 10 positions. However, only two of those positions are ready to be filled. The other eight are no longer funded by the government. 

"The door is always revolving," said Peters.

"We have retirements, we have promotions, we have transfers, and so it's filling some of those positions with experienced police officers."

Benefits are a big draw

The program is helping, she said, and she has been busy with applications.

"P.E.I. is a sought-after place to work," said Peters.

"People want to live here, people like working here. There is a lot of interest."

The East Coast is a particularly popular destination for the experienced officer program, she said, with people looking for an opportunity to move closer to family. 

And there are, quite literally, other benefits. The RCMP offers, in comparison to other police forces, very competitive pension and parental leave options. It can make for emotional swearing-in ceremonies, said Peters.

"They're able, maybe, to expand on their family, which is life-changing," she said.

WATCH | RCMP on P.E.I. changes its tactic to attract new officers:

RCMP on P.E.I. seeks to recruit members from other forces

10 months ago

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"We've had other ones who are in a police force knowing that they're never going to be able to move home because that police force is situated wherever it may be across the country. We give them that opportunity, that they can come home. I've had fathers-in-law and fathers crying, thanking us for seeing their child through the process."

For officers concerned about disrupting their relationship with their current employer, the RCMP offers confidentiality during the interview process to a point.

At the end of the process, the current employer must provide a reference.

Challenges for Charlottetown police

Charlottetown's municipal police department is also looking at how it can improve recruitment efforts in the face of more competitive hiring by forces like the RCMP. 

Chief Brad MacConnell said the department has seen a decrease in the number of applicants for positions, despite the city traditionally being an attractive place for officers. 

Part of the solution for Charlottetown Police Services, he said, could involve offering more wage parity and allowing officers transferring from other provinces to keep some of their seniority if they take a job in the city. 

"Police departments have become very competitive in their recruitment initiatives," MacConnell said. "We're reflecting on our process now and what we're offering and hopefully we'll get back to the high level of response we've enjoyed in the past."