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Become anAuxiliary Constable

Being an Auxiliary Constable with the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service is an exciting and rewarding volunteer opportunity. Auxiliary Constables support Sault Police in a variety of ways, including assisting at community festivals, parades, street parties, sporting events, and other special events.

Through their volunteer service, Auxiliary Constables gain unique, hands-on insight into the world of policing. They also have opportunities to join sworn officers on ride-alongs, giving them a first-hand look at the day-to-day realities of a career in policing.

For those considering a career in policing, becoming an Auxiliary Constable is a great way to explore the profession, gain valuable experience, and determine whether policing is the right career path for them. In fact, many of our sworn officers began their policing journey as Auxiliary Constables!

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Quick Access

Duties & Responsibilities

The Kind of Person We're Looking For

Commitment

Connect with a Recruiter

FAQs - The Volunteer Position

FAQs - Requirements & Qualifications

FAQs - Application & Selection Process

Duties & Responsibilities

Officer Support

Work under the supervision of a police officer, assist with assigned duties, and join patrols and ride-alongs.

Community Events

Provide assistance at parades, festivals and other major events to help manage crowds and keep people safe.

Traffic Safety

Help with traffic safety initiatives, direct traffic in emergency situations, and support RIDE programs.

Public Engagement

Represent the Service at information booths, career fairs, fitness test practice sessions, etc. while building positive connections.

Education

Deliver safety initiatives and hand out educational materials to promote awareness and crime prevention.

Training and Teamwork

Take part in training scenarios (e.g. Emergency Services Unit training) and meetings to build skills and contribute as part of the team.

The Kind of Person We're Looking For

This isn’t just volunteering. It’s a commitment to supporting your community, representing our Service, and standing alongside police officers in the work of public safety. For many, it’s also the first step toward a rewarding career in policing.

The people who thrive as Auxiliary Constables share a few key traits.

Respect for Others

Compassion

Strong Sense of Duty

Empathy

Clear Communication

Team-First Mindset

Steady Under Pressure

Honesty

Dependability

Commitment

  • Commit to volunteer for a minimum of two (2) years.
  • Volunteer to attend, at minimum, three (3) events per month.
  • Duties may take place any time, including nights and weekends.
  • Duties may take place in all weather conditions

Connect with a Recruiter

Our friendly Uniform Recruitment team is here to answer your questions and help you with the application process.

For more information about becoming an Auxiliary Constable, contact Sergeant Derek MacFarlane at d.macfarlane@ssmps.org or (705) 949-6300 ext. 238.

FAQs

The Volunteer Position

All duties will be completed by following Sault Ste. Marie Police Service procedures. Auxiliary Constables must be able to volunteer in all weather conditions. Auxiliary Constables volunteer under the supervision of a police officer.

Duties given by the supervising officer may include:

  • Perform Traffic safety initiatives, i.e. observe for caution letters, child safety seats, traffic direction, emergency situations, etc.
  • Provide support at major events such as parades, including crowd management to ensure public safety
  • Assist at RIDE programs
  • Assist members at information booths for public events, i.e. career fairs etc.
  • Initiate police-community interactions and engage with community groups
  • Deliver crime prevention initiatives
  • Hand out educational material
  • Accompany and assist a police officer during duty shifts, including ride-a-longs, bicycle patrol, snow machine patrols etc.
  • Actively and effectively participate in meetings, including regularly scheduled meetings.
  • Participate in training scenarios
  • Other duties assigned by the Chief of Police
  • Commit to volunteer for a minimum of two (2) years.
  • Volunteer to attend, at minimum, three (3) events per month.
  • Duties will take place any time during the day, including nights and weekends.
  • Approximately 40 hours of initial training.
  • Training and equipment provided at no cost to you.
    • Equipment includes uniform, hat, jacket, vest, radio, baton, handcuff pouch, etc.
  • Will not be issued a handgun, pepper spray or a conducted energy weapon (taser).
  • Contribute to community safety
  • Determine whether policing is the right career path for you
  • Get your foot in the door at SSMPS
    • Many Auxiliary Constables are later hired as Special Constables or Recruit Constables

Requirements & Qualifications

Minimum Requirements:

  • At least 18 years of age.
  • A Canadian citizen or a permanent resident.
  • Have good moral character and habits.
  • Able to attend training and successfully pass tests set by the Service.
  • Score at least 75% on the Police Fitness (PIN) Test. To prepare yourself for the required fitness testing, visit Police Fitness Personnel Ontario (PFPO) for a full breakdown of the tests you will be required to perform.
  • Have successfully completed at least four years of secondary school education or its equivalent (proof of successful completion of secondary school or equivalent is required - please click here to use our flow chart to determine if you need to obtain an Educational Credential Assessment)
  • Able to be certified by a medical practitioner to be mentally and physically fit for duty.
  • Successfully complete a vision and hearing test.
  • Be qualified in Standard First Aid, CPR-C and AED (Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation and Automated External Defibrillator).
    • While your certificate is not required to be submitted along with your initial application, you must have training scheduled and you must submit your certificate prior to receiving a conditional offer of employment 
  • Have a valid G Class driver’s licence with no more than six (6) demerit points; and
  • Able to follow all rules of the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service.

The Sault Ste. Marie Police Service’s selection standards are high. If you are not presently able to minimally meet all these standards, you may want to consider taking time to improve your level of competitiveness.

Applicants must be at least 18 years old to apply to a police service. There are no other age limitations.

Being a Canadian citizen or permanent resident is a requirement.

The Sault Ste. Marie Police Service requires applicants to provide proof that they meet the minimum education requirements (i.e. a Canadian high school diploma or equivalent education).

Please click here to use our "Do I need an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) Flow Chart" to determine whether you are required to obtain an ECA to apply.

Good character is of the utmost importance in the decision to hire an Auxiliary Constable. Some of the qualities, characteristics, and skills we look for are (in no particular order):

  • Respect for others
  • Compassion and empathy
  • Clear communication
  • Conflict resolution
  • Strong sense of duty
  • Team player
  • Community-oriented
  • Responsible and dependable
  • Steady under pressure
  • Honest
  • Goal-oriented
  • Understands the importance of equity, diversity, and inclusion

Auxiliary Constables must be in good health. Candidates must pass medical evaluation and may need to pass psychological, vision. and hearing evaluations. Evaluation costs are covered by SSMPS.

Applicants with concerns about their health should get advice from a medical professional before applying.

Yes. We require proof of successful completion of high school (secondary school), regardless of whether you provide proof of successful completion of college or university (post-secondary school or other continuing education).

If your high school education took place outside of Canada, an Educational Credential Assessment of your secondary school credentials may be required. 

The Sault Ste. Marie Police Service requires applicants to provide proof that they meet the minimum education requirements (i.e. a Canadian high school diploma or equivalent education).

Please click here to use our "Do I need an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) Flow Chart" to determine whether you are required to obtain an ECA to apply.

Application & Selection Process

Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications will typically be evaluated in the following phases:

  1. Complete and submit online application
  2. Complete a pre-background screening
  3. Physical fitness assessment - must achieve 75% or higher on Fitness Pin
  4. Complete pre-background questionnaire and personal history form
  5. Job interview
  6. Police background investigation
  7. Medical examination
  8. Home visit
  9. Conditional offer

Candidates may need to partake in psychological, vision, and hearing examinations.
Our team will review your application for content, attention to detail, spelling, grammar, etc. Be sure to thoroughly proofread your application and required documents before submitting.
 
It is also important that you are completely honest when filling out your application, background questionnaire, personal history form, etc. Dishonesty may result in your process being stopped.

Applications are not accepted in-person or via email.

1. Click on the "View Current Career Opportunities" button on any of our career path pages to view posted positions. Click on the job number to view a specific posting.

2. You will be taken to a full description page. If you are interested in applying to that position, click the "Apply" button at the bottom of that page.

3. You will then be prompted to create select "New Applicant" or "Returning User." If you are a new applicant you will need to create a user profile. If you do not have an email account, you can set one up with a free email provider such as Gmail.

  • Once a profile is created, you can log in anytime to see the status of your application(s), update your information, apply for other positions, add skills and any additional supporting documents.
  • Your cover letter and resume must clearly demonstrate how you meet the requirements of the position.

4. Ensure you have all of the documents uploaded as your application will not be submitted without having all required documents in the system.

5. An email confirming your application will be automatically sent to you when you have applied successfully. If you do not receive an email, your application has not uploaded to the competition and will remain in the candidate profile.

We thank all of those who apply; however, only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.

To learn more about the physical fitness test, scoring, and recommended preparation program, visit our Physical Fitness Requirements webpage.

The Sault Ste. Marie Police Service conducts a blended interview, using the Essential Competencies Interview and Local Focus Interview.

You will be contacted to participate in an interview (similar to a job interview).

  • Approximately 60-90 minutes
  • Panel interview with Sergeant of Uniform Recruitment and Background Investigator

We recommend using the STAR method for answering interview questions. Every answer should include:

  • Situation
  • Task
  • Action, and
  • Result

Applications are valid for one year from the date that you have applied.

This is a competitive process. Your process may be stopped at any time if you are deemed not to be competitive or concerns arise. Applicants are continually being assessed on their qualifications including education, driving ability, physical fitness, and writing skills. Your conduct prior to and throughout the process will assess your integrity, leadership, and people skills.

The information you provide will help us to determine whether you meet certain requirements of good moral character and habits as well as conditions of work, as referenced by the Community Safety and Policing Act (CSPA). Your answers may be verified through a detailed background check, which is a routine requirement for candidates who reach the final stages of the selection process. Please be advised that providing false or misleading information may lead to disqualification from the selection process.

Factors that will come up in a background check and may disqualify you include (but are not limited to): recent police involvement, intimate partner (domestic) violence, criminal charges, affiliation with criminal activity, etc.

Yes; however, if you have previously applied for this position, you may receive an error message indicating you have already applied. Please sign in to the application portal and replace any documents that require updating. After ensuring all of your documents are up-to-date, please contact Sergeant Derek MacFarlane in Uniform Recruitment via email d.macfarlane@ssmps.org to advise your documents have been updated and you would like to re-apply.
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