P.E.I. RCMP opens up to police from other forces
CBC
The RCMP's experienced officer program has opened on P.E.I. to address a major shortage of Mounties on the Island.
The experienced officer program allows police with a minimum of two years' 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 in other parts of Canada for a while, but has only been open for officers looking to locate on P.E.I. since May.
The change comes with the RCMP 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.
One of the biggest problems in staffing was on P.E.I. Last February the vacancy rate in RCMP positions was 16 per cent, the second highest in the country.
"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."
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.
"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."
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