The RCMP is planning to pilot a new recruitment program that will allow some fresh hires to bypass the usual training at the Regina Depot and skip service in a detachment, instead going directly to federal police work in Ottawa.
The Federal Policing Recruit Development Program (FPRDP) is “designed to facilitate direct entry into Federal Policing for new recruits,” Mark Flynn, deputy commissioner of federal policing for the RCMP, told The Epoch Times by email on Aug. 31.
Mr. Flynn said the training is based on the Cadet Training Program (CTP) delivered at the RCMP Training Academy, known as the Depot, in Regina, Saskatchewan, but has been “restructured and adapted in order to suit the distinctive requirements of Federal Policing and will include additional training, specific to the area of work.”
The deputy commissioner said the program has been developed with collaboration and input from various “business lines” across Canada with health and safety of officers and the public a priority.
“Getting more—and the right—candidates through the door will assist in relieving pressures for all,” said Mr. Flynn.
Information about the FPRDP was updated on the RCMP website on July 23, and explains that successful applicants will be hired as constables and start with 12 weeks of core police training “immediately followed by two weeks of Immediate Action Deployment and carbine training,” meaning firearms handling.
It also includes protective services, which have reportedly increased security and protection for federal ministers and government officials.
Recruits would not have to serve in a detachment, which is often remote and can discourage applicants, according to Mr. Flynn.
“If there is somebody who is interested in coming into the organization and specializing, we don’t want the traditional model of having people go do frontline policing be a barrier for them,” he said.
The deputy commissioner suggested more officers are needed to keep up with an increasing crime rate.
“If we’re going to remove as many barriers as we can that impact our ability to recruit and retain people ... it’s also important to provide that training option in the city where the work is, and where the people want to live,” Mr. Flynn said.
“I would love to be able to investigate every single crime that I know of and every single criminal that I know. But I cannot,” he added.
“There are times when I am faced with lists of priority targets, where we have to triage them and work on the highest threat, even though we know about other criminal networks that are operating that we can’t target.”
