Reserve Constable
Are you thinking about a career in policing? Or maybe you just want to give back to your community? Many of our volunteer Police Reserve Constables go on to pursue a policing career, and many more just want to play a part in helping the community stay safe for all to enjoy.
Whatever your reason for joining us, the Reserve Constable Program offers an exciting and challenging volunteer experience. The Victoria Police Reserve Constable Program is recognized throughout the Canadian policing community as a leader in the development and delivery of community-based Reserve Constable Policing.
Through the Victoria Police Reserve Constable Program volunteers receive first-hand experience in working with the Victoria Police Department (VicPD), delivering Crime Prevention programs to citizens and businesses.
Some of the community programs Reserve Constables participate in include: Uniformed neighbourhood patrols, Home/Business Security Audits, Safety Presentations, and Block Watch. Reserve Constables are also involved in many community events as either a uniform presence or conducting traffic control. Reserve Constables can participate in the ride-along program, Roadblocks, and the Late Night Task Force, where they accompany a police officer and observe the officer’s duties and assist where they can. Reserve Constables are also used a role players in regular member training.
Requirements
Qualifications:
What you need to apply
- Minimum age 18 years (must turn 19 years of age prior to the end of the 3 month training period)
- No criminal record for which a pardon has not been granted
- Valid Basic First Aid Certificate and CPR
- Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident
- Visual acuity must be no poorer than 20/40, 20/100 uncorrected and 20/20, 20/30 corrected. Applicants having corrective laser surgery must wait three months from time of surgery before the Reserve training ends
- Grade 12 education
- Valid Drivers Licence, with a record indicative of responsible driving habits
- Demonstrated fit and healthy lifestyle
- Meet the medical requirements of the Victoria Police Department
- Maturity derived from varied life experience
- Demonstrated sensitivity to people whose culture, lifestyle or ethnicity is different than your own
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Successful background investigation
During the application process, Reserve candidates will be required to:
- Pass a Physical Test, which can be the POPAT (Police Officer’s Physical Ability Test). Regular member applicants need to pass the POPAT. Click here to see the POPAT course layout.
- Pass the Lifestyle Evaluation
- Complete the written Ethos exam: Police ETHOS Test -Sample
Benefits
What to Expect
All successful Reserves are expected to:
Volunteer a minimum of 10 hours a month in a minimum of 10 months during the year.
Complete Use of Force recertification training days.
In return for the volunteer hours that have been committed, VicPD will provide you with:
- Three months of intensive basic training
- Opportunities to participate in the delivery of Crime Prevention Programs
- Exciting opportunities to assist regular members in Patrol, Traffic Control and Liquor Control and Licencing Enforcement
- Opportunity to assist with special events
- Access to the Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP)
- Uniforms and dry cleaning service
- Training for the Reserves
Typically, the Victoria Police Department usually runs 1-2 Reserve Constable training classes a year. The classes run from January to March, April to June, and September to December.
Successful candidates must complete the basic Reserve Officers training mandated by Police Services. Training takes about 3 months with classes held Tuesday and Thursday nights from 6 pm to 9 pm and every Saturday from 8 am to 4 pm. There will be two Sundays of training as well, which will take place between 8 am and 4 pm.
Candidates study legal issues, crime prevention, traffic, professionalism and ethics, communication tactics and self-defense training. Practical and written exams are held for self-defense and communications and two Provincial written exams are given on classroom studies. The Provincial written exams are conducted by the Justice Institute of BC. There is a minimal grade of 70% for all JIBC exams. Training also has a strong physical/team building component.