Auxiliary Policing
The Ontario Provincial Police (O.P.P.) supports a contingent of dedicated civilian volunteers through its Auxiliary Program which receives its mandate from Ontario’s Police Services Act.
The Mission Statement of the Auxiliary Program:
“To provide fully trained volunteer Auxiliary Members to perform police duties in special circumstances, including emergencies, when there are not sufficient O.P.P. police officers.”
An Executive Committee comprised of senior Auxiliary officers, commissioned officers and representation from the Commissioned Officers Association and the Ontario Provincial Police Association administers the Provincial Auxiliary Program.
Members of the Auxiliary have no police authority/power and must rely on the same arrest provisions afforded regular citizens.
The Police Services Act does, however, provide for instances when the Auxiliary Member may have the authority of a Police Officer. This can occur in an emergency situation where the O.P.P. requires additional strength to cope with a special occasion or event.
Being a volunteer with the O.P.P. Auxiliary allows citizens the opportunity of experiencing first hand both the excitement and challenges as well as the routine and the uneventful in any tour of police duty.
