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Auxiliary Background

  • The Auxiliary OPP was originally formed in 1960 by an Order-in-Council. Prior to that it was known as the Emergency Measures Organization who were trained in crowd control and first aid in the event of a nuclear attack from Russia. The EMO transferred over to the OPP and known as Auxiliary.

  • The Program was managed by the OPP and its members in the early years helped at community events and patrolled with regular OPP members

  • Following an audit in 1988 a number of recommendations were made and in 1991 they became self-directed and the Commissioner appointed Aux Chief Superintendent Terry Harkins as its Executive Director; Provincial Commander of the OPP Auxiliary.

  • The volunteer component developed and included ranks, positions, promotional processes that mirrored the regular OPP structure.

  • In the new organization the Auxiliary took on the responsibility for standardized selection process and training of its members.

  • The Auxiliary OPP uniform differs only in the light blue shirt they wear as opposed to the dark blue shirt worn by regular OPP members and all components of their outwear bear insignia identifying them as Auxiliary/Auxiliare

  • In 1997 GATB (General Aptitude Test Battery) and Psychological Testing of new auxiliary recruits commenced.

  • Members of the auxiliary are unpaid and receive some compensation for travel and meals. Their membership consists of people from diverse backgrounds and civilian occupations including members of the military, lawyers, pilots, farmers, paramedics, bus drivers, nurses, electricians, carpenters, mechanics, homemakers, private businesspeople to name a few.

  • Enrolment requirements are: Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada, minimum age of 18 years, Ontario Secondary School Graduation diploma or equivalent, have standard First Aid, mentally and physically able to perform duties of auxiliary member, possess a valid driver's license, good driving records and successfully complete the interview process.

  • Their duties are endless but include traffic control, ground security at major events, doing surveys, seat belt clinics, assisting on RIDE initiatives, bicycle inspections and rodeos, assisting at safety displays and presentations, foot and road patrols with regular members, accompanying regular members on marine and snow vehicle patrol, victim assistance, tagging evidence, ceremonial duties, search and rescue to name a few.

  • In 2000 almost all-available Auxiliary OPP were placed on stand-by during Y2K and were prepared to assist where necessary.

  • The Auxiliary were placed on emergency stand-by for post Sept 11th planning.

  • In 1998 the Ice Storm in East Ontario utilized auxiliary members in providing assistance to stranded persons without power. The use of their civilian occupations played a significant part by providing medical services, mechanics, electricians etc to aid people getting the lives back to normal.

  • The OPP Auxiliary are governed by a Mission Statement agreed to by its Executive Director, the Commissioner, the Ontario Provincial Police Association and the Commissioned Officers Association to provide fully trained volunteer auxiliary members to perform police duties only in special circumstances, including an emergency, that the police officers of the OPP are not sufficiently numerous to deal with.

  • It is recognized that the Auxiliary OPP shall not be utilized to replace regular members in any duties, training must occur for auxiliary personnel to a level to provide necessary skills to safely fulfill the requirements of their mandate under the Police Services Act, and that they participate within those duties which enhance community policing efforts, crime prevention programs, and public service as opposed to direct police service delivery.