Police ranks in Canada

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officer ranks above staff sergeant resemble those that formerly existed in the Canadian Army but have since been replaced by warrant officers.[3] The commissioned officer ranks, by contrast, use a set of non-military titles that are often used in Commonwealth police services.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
Commissioner Superintendent Inspector
Royal Canadian Mounted Police[4]
Commissioner Deputy commissioner Assistant commissioner Chief superintendent Superintendent Inspector
Commissaire Sous-commissaire Commissaire adjoint Surintendant principal Surintendant Inspecteur
Slip on rank slides
Others
Non-commissioned officers Constables Depot
Royal Canadian Mounted Police[4]
 No insignia
Corps sergeant major Sergeant major Staff sergeant major Staff sergeant Sergeant Corporal Constable Cadet
Sergent-major du corps Sergent-major Sergent-major d'état major Sergent d'état-major Sergent Caporal Gendarme Cadet
Slip on rank slides

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.[5] 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.[6][7]

Alberta

Alberta Sheriffs Branch

Peace officer ranks for the Alberta Sheriffs Branch:[8]

Ranks Chief sheriff Deputy chief Superintendent Inspector Branch sergeant major Sergeant Sheriff III FTO Sheriff III Sheriff II Sheriff I
Insignia
No insignia No insignia

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
c
c
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

Ranks[9] Chief of police Deputy chief Superintendent Inspector Corps sergeant major Staff sergeant Sergeant Senior constable Constable
Insignia[9]
No insignia

Lethbridge Police Service

Ranks Chief of police Deputy chief Inspector Staff sergeant Sergeant Senior constable Constable
Insignia
No insignia

British Columbia

British Columbia Sheriff Service

Ranks[10] Chief sheriff Deputy chief Superintendent Staff inspector Inspector Staff sergeant Sergeant Deputy sheriff Recruit sheriff
Insignia

British Columbia Conservation Officer Service

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

Rank Chief officer Deputy chief officer Superintendent Inspector Staff sergeant Sergeant Constable
Insignia

New Westminster Police Department

Rank Chief constable Deputy chief constable Superintendent Major Superintendent Inspector Staff Sergeant Sergeant Corporal First class constable qualified First class constable Second class constable Third class constable Fourth class constable
Insignia

Vancouver Police Department

Rank[11] Chief constable Deputy chief constable Superintendent Inspector Staff sergeant Sergeant Police constable 1st class/detective Police constable 2nd class Police constable 3rd class Police constable 4th class
Insignia[11]
  • Special municipal constable (traffic authority/jail guard/community safety personnel)

Manitoba

Winnipeg Police Service

Rank Chief of police Deputy chief of police Superintendent Inspector Staff sergeant Sergeant Detective sergeant / patrol sergeant Senior constable Constable
Insignia
enter

New Brunswick

Newfoundland and Labrador

Royal Newfoundland Constabulary

The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary is the provincial police service for the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Rank Commanding officers Senior officers Police officers Officers in training
Chief constable Deputy chief Superintendent Inspector Staff sergeant Sergeant Constable Cadet
Insignia

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

Northwest Territories

Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia uses Sheriffs.[12]

Nunavut

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."[13]

Rank Commissioner Deputy commissioner Chief superintendent Superintendent Inspector Sergeant major Staff sergeant / Detective staff sergeant Sergeant / Detective sergeant Provincial constable / Detective constable
1st to 4th class
Insignia

(slip-on)

Insignia

(shoulder board)

Title Special constable Special constable Auxiliary constable
Insignia
Notes GHQ security, Queen's Park security Digital forensics, forensic investigators, court security, offender transport Auxiliary policing program

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.[14]

Rank Commanding officers Senior officers Police officers Officers in training
Chief of police Deputy chief of police Staff superintendent Superintendent Staff inspector Inspector Staff sergeant Sergeant Constable Cadet
Insignia

(slip-on)

Insignia

(shoulder board)

Shoulder boards not used for these ranks

Ottawa Police Service

Rank Commanding officers Senior officers Police officers
Chief of police Deputy chief of police Superintendent Inspector Staff sergeant Sergeant First class constable Second class constable Third class constable Fourth class constable
Insignia

(slip-on)

Insignia

(shoulder board)

Shoulder boards not used for these ranks

Peel Regional Police

Rank Commanding officers Senior officers Police officers Recruits
Chief of police Deputy chief of police Staff superintendent Superintendent Staff inspector (not currently in use) Inspector Staff sergeant Sergeant Senior police constable Police constable first class Police constable second class Police constable third class Police constable fourth class Police cadet
Insignia

(slip-on)

No insignia
Insignia

(shoulder board)

Shoulder boards not used for these ranks
Rank Special constables
Special constable supervisor Special constable
Insignia

(slip-on)

Kingston Police

Rank Commanding officers Senior officers Police officers
Chief of police Deputy chief of police Superintendent Staff Inspector Inspector Staff sergeant Sergeant Senior police constable Constable
Insignia

(slip-on)

Insignia

(shoulder board)

Shoulder boards not used for these ranks

Cobourg Police Service

Rank Commanding officers Senior officers Police officers
Chief of police Deputy chief of police Inspector Staff sergeant Sergeant Constable
Insignia
Insignia (shoulder board)
Shoulder boards are not used for these ranks.

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

  • Chief of police
  • Deputy chief
  • Superintendent
  • Inspector
  • Staff sergeant / detective sergeant
  • Sergeant / detective
  • Police constable / detective constable

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

  • Chief of police
  • Sergeant
  • Constable
  • Auxiliary constable

Prince Edward Island

Quebec

Sûreté du Québec

Ranks of Sûreté du Québec[15][16]
General staff officers Officers Sub-Officers Agents
Directeur general Directeur adjoint Inspecteur chef Inspecteur Capitaine Lieutenant Sergent Chef d'equipe 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 Sûreté du Québec.

Ranks of Kativik Regional Police
Officers Sub-Officers
Agents
Chef Chef deputé Capitaine Sergent Agent
Chief Deputy Chief Captain Sergeant Constable
No insignia

Service de police de la Ville de Montréal

Ranks of the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal:[17]

  • Director (directeur)
  • Associate director (directeur-adjoint)
  • Assistant director (assistant-directeur)
  • Chief inspector (inspecteur chef)
  • Inspector (inspecteur)
  • Commander (commandant de quartier)
  • Lieutenant / detective lieutenant (lieutenant/lieutenant détective)
  • Quarter sergeant (sergent de quartier)
  • Sergeant / detective sergeant (sergent/sergent détective)
  • Senior constable (agent sénior)
  • Constable (agent)

Service de police de la Ville de Laval

  • Director (directeur)
  • Associate director (directeur-adjoint)
  • Assistant director (assistant-directeur)
  • Chief inspector (inspecteur chef)
  • Inspector (inspecteur)
  • Lieutenant / detective lieutenant (lieutenant/lieutenant détective)
  • Sergeant / detective sergeant (sergent/sergent détective)
  • Constable (agent)

Service de police de la Ville de Québec

  • Director (directeur)
  • Associate director (directeur-adjoint)
  • Lieutenant (lieutenant)
  • Sergeant (sergent)
  • Constable (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

  • 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

Yukon

Specialized police services

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

  • 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

Commissioned officers[18]
1870–1900 Commissioner Deputy commissioner Assistant commissioner Chief superintendent Superintendent Inspector Sub-inspector
Other ranks
1870s Chief constable[19] Staff constable[20] Constable[19] Sub-constable
1880s–1890s Sergeant major[21] Staff sergeant[22] Sergeant[23] Corporal Constable
1900s Sergeant major Staff sergeant Sergeant Corporal Constable

References

  1. ^ "Organizational structure - Royal Canadian Mounted Police". Rcmp-grc.gc.ca. 13 March 2017. Archived from the original on 28 February 2009. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  2. ^ "Ranks of the Force". Royal Canadian Mounted Police. 21 May 2015. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  3. ^ "Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP¨) / Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) / Gendarmerie royale du Canada (GRC)". uniforminsignia.org.
  4. ^ a b "Ranks of the Force". rcmp-grc.gc.ca. Royal Canadian Mounted Police. 21 May 2015. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  5. ^ "The Service". Parliamentary Protective Service.
  6. ^ "MEDIA AVAILABILITY - 2021 International Women's Day". Newswire. 1 March 2021.
  7. ^ "Agreement Between the Parliamentary Protective Service and the Senate Protective Service Employees Association" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 March 2023.
  8. ^ "Sub 3 - Sheriff, Security and Transport". Chr.alberta.ca. 5 December 2014. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  9. ^ a b "2008 Edmonton Police Service and Edmonton Police Commission - Annual Report to the Community". 2008. Archived from the original on 11 June 2010.
  10. ^ "Deputy Sheriff Career Opportunities". gov.bc.ca. Government of British Columbia. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  11. ^ a b "The Job | Vancouver Police Department". Vancouver.ca. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  12. ^ "Sheriff Services". novascotia.ca.
  13. ^ "OPP Ranks". Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  14. ^ Toronto Police Service. "Toronto Police Service :: To Serve and Protect". Torontopolice.on.ca. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  15. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 5 June 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  16. ^ "Grades à la Sûreté du Québec" [Ranks at the Sûreté du Québec]. Sûreté du Québec (in French). Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  17. ^ "Discover police work - Service de Police de la Ville de Montréal". SPVM. 15 February 2017. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  18. ^ "Uniform". Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  19. ^ a b "Earliest Known Picture, 1874". Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  20. ^ "Staff Sergeant in Undress, 1879". Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  21. ^ "Sergeant-Major in Undress, 1890". Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  22. ^ "Staff Sergeant in Full Dress, 1886". Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  23. ^ Jack L. Summers; Renee Chartrand. "History and Uniform of the North West Mounted Police, 1873–1904". Retrieved January 25, 2021.
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