The OPP’s annual recruitment campaign was held in Orillia over the past weekend and the force is looking to the military for help.
Karim Khan works in the Canadian Forces but for the past two and a half days he’s been learning what it’s like to be a police officer.
“I’ve always had an interest in policing and law enforcement has always been in the back of my mind. I thought it would be an easy transition coming from a military background.”
Kahn is one of 63 people who were selected from more than 800 military applicants. The recruits took part in a program called OPPBound 2014.
“There’s everything, from what recruits with the OPP would go through, their living corridors to marching everywhere, the food they eat, the training that they receive in terms of where the training is to scenarios,” says Josh Hamon with the Canadian Armed Forces Reserves.
The OPP is always looking for recruits and this year people who had a military background were asked to take part for a good reason.
“Right now in Canada approximately 5,000 military members regular forces and reservists per year are transitioning from military life into civilian careers,” says OPP Inspector Dave Quigley. “When we talk to potential candidates and we talk about the discipline and the integrity and the work ethic – those sorts of qualities that we are looking for. Military experienced people very often bring that exact skill set to us.”
Recruiting and training officers is a big focus for the OPP because lots of spots are going to be opening up in the next few years.
“We are hiring like crazy. We have 96 recruits slated for the August/September class for the next year, the Commissioner’s Committee is already prepared to send as many recruits as possible to the Ontario Police College,” said OPP recruiter Gloria Yu.
Programs like the one held on Monday can help people make a decision.
“I’m definitely going to apply and see where it goes,” says Canadian Armed Forces Reserves member Josh Hamon.
“It was definitely an eye opener. I was actually leaning towards doing it to begin with. Now that I have some inside information I’m going to have to go back and tweak my resume a little bit,” says Khan.
According to the OPP, nearly 2,000 officers are eligible to retire in the next six years. That’s why they need to hold training programs to keep finding new recruits.
