The Vancouver Police Department employs Special Municipal Constables as jail guards, traffic authority, and community safety officers. A person is hired and trained to work in all three positions, and starts as an auxiliary employee. These positions provide relevant work experience for people pursuing a policing career.
Community Safety Personnel assist regular patrol officers with various lower-risk tasks, such as picking up statements, outside perimeter security at police incidents, transporting and tagging property, and providing support at major events and emergencies.
Jail Guards book, search, guard, escort, and take care of the people in our custody. They maintain records, jail security and prisoner safety.
Traffic Authority Members direct traffic at public, private, and community events.
- minimum 19 years of age
- Grade 12 diploma or GED equivalent
- excellent character
- physically fit and in excellent health
- Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident
- no Criminal convictions, no adult criminal charges pending
- valid BC Class 5 driver’s licence with no restrictions and a good driving record
- valid Standard First Aid/CPR “C” certification
- meet the visual acuity standards
Traffic Authority
There are no set hours for Traffic Authority shifts. You can tailor your availability around your work or school schedule, or other commitments. The minimum requirement is to work 100 hours in one year.
Salary
- Step 1 $22.18
- Step 2 $23.95
- Step 3 $25.98
A total of 1,500 hours of work is required to advance to the next step.
Benefits
- uniforms and equipment are supplied
- uniform cleaning is provided
- 12% in lieu of benefits
Jail Guard
Jail Guards begin as auxiliary employees. The schedule is based on staffing needs in the jail and on the guards’ availability. Part-time auxiliary Jail Guards can advance to a full-time position, dependent on vacancies and qualifications.
A full-time workweek consists of:
- four days on, four days off
- 12-hour shifts – two days (6 a.m. to 6 p.m.) and two nights (6 p.m. to 6 a.m.)
Salary
The salary of full-time and auxiliary guards is:
- Step 1: $26.63 hourly
- Step 2: $28.91 hourly
- Step 3: $31.26 hourly
Benefits (for full-time jail guards)
- three weeks of annual holidays to start
- overtime pay when working holidays
- uniforms and uniform cleaning supplied
- medical and dental coverage
Community Safety
The VPD employs both full-time and auxiliary Community Safety Personnel.
A full-time workweek for temporary full-time Community Safety Personnel consists of:
- four days on, four days off
- 11-hour rotating shifts – (7 a.m. to 6 p.m., 2 p.m. to 1 a.m., and 7 p.m. to 6 a.m.)
Auxiliary community safety personnel generally work 8-hour shifts and/or may follow the same rotating shift as those who are temporary full-time, based on operational need. They may also participate in projects, where shifts vary in length.
Salary
The salary of temporary full-time and auxiliary Community Safety Personnel is:
- Step 1: $22.18
- Step 2: $23.95
- Step 3: $25.98
Benefits
- Uniforms and uniform cleaning supplied
- Access to gym facilities
- 12% – 16% in lieu of benefits
1. Information Session
It is preferable that you attend an in-person Information Session. If you are not able to attend in person, you can view a previously recorded session.
2. Application Package
Download and print an application package and an integrity and lifestyle questionnaire. Complete the forms and mail the package to:
2120 Cambie Street
Vancouver, BC V5K 5J5
OR
You can drop off the package in a sealed envelope marked “Attention: Recruiting” at our Public Information Counter.
Once your application is reviewed, you may be invited to write the intake exam.
3. Written Testing
The three-hour entrance exam sits on Saturdays. You will be tested on grammar, spelling, composition, comprehension, and mathematics at a Grade 12 level. The exam also includes a section on memory and short essay responses, and will be handwritten, with no spell check or calculators. Errors in spelling and grammar will result in marks deducted from your score. A pass mark of 50% is required for Special Municipal Constable applicants.
See sample written exam for some sample questions.
4. Physical Testing
Complete the physical testing, which consists of the Correctional Officer Physical Abilities Test (COPAT). The COPAT must be completed in under 2:50.
VPD COPAT practices are on every third Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. Contact VPD Athletic Therapist Rebecca Swan to ask about COPAT sessions and dates after you have been invited to write the exam.
5. Interview
At this stage of the process, you will be interviewed by a detective from the Recruiting Unit who will review your integrity and lifestyle questionnaire and personal history.
The interview will assess your integrity, problem-solving abilities, respect for diversity, community service orientation, self-initiative, and acceptance of responsibility.
6. Polygraph Examination
If you have been honest and forthcoming throughout the application process, you should have no concerns about the polygraph stage.
7. Recruiting Sergeant Interview
You will participate in an interview with a Recruiting sergeant, where a review of your file will take place.
8. Medical Exam
Complete the medical examination form with your own doctor, at your own cost. Hearing standards are assessed by your own doctor at this stage.
9. Background Investigation
A thorough background investigation by a detective from the Recruiting Unit will include interviews with your family, long-time friends, present and past employers and colleagues, neighbours, and landlords.
Training
Training consists of 13 to 16 weeks of paid training in legal studies, the Motor Vehicle Act, VPD policy and procedures, force options, and traffic control. It takes place at the Vancouver Police Department and the Tactical Training Centre.