I was quite surprised recently to learn that the RCMP has no Direct Entry Officer program comparable to the military (strange, isn’t it, to suggest that the military is more progressive?). Basically, the RCMP take recruits with a minimum of high school and then hope to develop a sophisticated, professional police force with a myriad of functions and responsibilities.
Unfortunately, such a system encourages the very problems that have been reported of late: old boys networks, excessive control (through career progression), fear of reprisals, an unshakeable faith that you have to work as a patrolman to understand the role and the force, a closed shop, resistance to change, etc, etc.
At the very least, the military recruits for both non-commissioned and commissioned officers. That is, they recognize that you need two types of workers; those with more limited educational levels who can be trained to perform the many trades required of the military, and a professional, well-educated officer cadre to lead and move the military forward as a modern, sophisticated organization.
If the RCMP expects to address complex issues in a wide range of fields, it needs to adopt recruitment and development processes to match.
Larry; the problem starts with taking 19 year old recruits with a minimum of HS graduation. The Vancouver Police Dept. requires a minimum of one year of college, for candidates.
The difference of course is the commitment that was required to attain a high enough GPA to have been accepted to University in the first place.
Police officers in the above example, progress through the ranks by taking Univ. level courses as well as by exhibiting merit.
In the RCMP, candidates for Commissions apply after having served in the ranks for a number of years (and one would assume having been promoted within the ranks).
I'd suggest that hiring commissioned officers from outside the RCMP would be extremely demoralizing to the rank and file. The promotion by merit system used to work, all that's missing is the requirement that initiative need be demonstrated by completing a Law and/or business mgmt. degree.
Having said my 2cents worth on that, I should also point out that the VPD went through a rough patch largely due to cronyism. The case of the brilliant young officer who on his own initiative, developed a very impressive piece of crime mapping and predictive software, was promoted to Inspector, (correct me if I'm wrong) and then was demoted by jealous colleages in a management pogrom, which incidentally cost the Chief HIS job.
The software developer now works in a senior position at the FBI if I'm not mistaken; he also tours as a consultant all over North America. Another Canuck driven out.
The link below is to The Current on CBC where this issue was discussed last week. Paul Palango confirmed what was in Mark's linked article and goes even further. With 20 officers killed in line of duty since 2000, the RCMP is the most dangerous police force - more so than New York City, Washington or Detroit. Palango asserts the RCMP should get out of contract policing where 10,000 of its 16,000 officers work. He also has written, and discusses here, that the RCMP is the poorest trained police force in Canada - much less so than the average municipal police force.
[External Link]
Daninvan,
The system works in the military without being demoralizing. Basically, they have two rank structures - one for the non-commissioned officers and one for commission officers - with full lines of career advancement, power and prestige for each.
To suggest that all commissioned officers have to come from the rank and file would mean that the skill set for good patrol officers leads to good officers, leaders, investigators and so on. That is not true of any organziation and clearly not for police officers.
I would suggest that to have someone toil on the streets for many years before taking on a leadership role would not be attractive to many would-be professionals. Someone looking at a university level education in forensics or criminology, for example, is unlikely to want to work the streets as a patrolman. Likewise, if you are attracted to the job of a patrolman, you are probably less likely to pursue a university degree.
Larry; I doubt that rookie cops see themselves as walking a beat (as if...) for their whole career.
I'm assuming that an individual would attempt to boost their career into the ranks of Detective or investigators. Accounting opens up career paths in commercial crime units
Starting salaries for cops are as good as if not better than for teachers, who incidentally went to University. Teachers may well desire a career in management but they're not going to make Vice Principal without 'walking the beat' for years. It's just the way it is. No one's going to respect an Inspector who got his job with a degree in Criminology, and no practical experience.
From National Defence's web-site, Gen Rick Hillier's bio:
"Born in Newfoundland and Labrador, General Rick Hillier joined the Canadian Forces as soon as he could. Having enrolled in the Canadian Forces in 1973 through the Regular Officer Training Plan program, he graduated from Memorial University of Newfoundland in 1975 with a Bachelor of Science Degree. After completing his armour officer classification training, he joined his first regiment, the 8th Canadian Hussars (Princess Louise's) in Petawawa, Ontario. Subsequently, he served with, and later commanded, the Royal Canadian Dragoons in Canada and Germany."
Gen Hillier was never a private or corporal but certainly has the respect of his men. He got his university degree, entering at the officer level.
He has practical experience ... as an officer.
The ability to be a good cop is not determined if you went to university not. Maturity of a recruit is also not determined by anything other then a specific persons experience in life. Some of the best police officers across the country started the job at 18, they also started in a time when the law was respected by the average person a whole lot more. I blame the people living in our country for bringing things to the point it's at, but not everyone likes to take off the rose coloured glasses.
Posted at 2007-11-28 22:44:44 [PermaLink]Manuel,
I never suggested that you need a university degree to be a good cop. I am merely pointing out that the demands of a modern, professional police force requires a wide range of skills and education ... you can't take 18 yr old high schoolers off the streets and expect to achieve that type of force. Specialized work requires specialized training.
This is an interesting discussion regarding qualifications and promotion within the RCMP. Referring back to my previous post and Paul Palango's observation concerning contract policing, it appears the RCMP has too much on its plate. The qualifications for its varying tasks require different skills and training. Assuming it retains the role of contract policing (across Canada outside of Ontario and Quebec), the necessary qualifications will differ greatly from those required for tackling white collar crime or terrorist activity within Canada.
The latter tasks closely resemble those of the FBI whose entry job qualifications (see link below) include "a bachelor's degree from a four-year resident program at a college or university which is certified by one of the six regional accrediting bodies of the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education."
"In addition to the above minimum qualifications, Special Agent candidates must qualify under one or more of the following four entrance programs: Law, Accounting, Language, and Diversified."
[External Link]
It appears FBI agents start their law enforcement career a hell of a lot more qualified than the RCMP - but then FBI agents aren't tasked with handing out speeding tickets in Montana. I would say a key first question is just what do we want the RCMP to do.
Some interesting stuff here, esp. 7.3
[External Link]
I think the above link made my point better than I.
There's a huge difference, Larry, between the training that a Cadet Officer receives in the military, and the level of experience required to command S/Sgts, as would be the case in the RCMP as a Commissioned Officer. (Staff Sargeant's in the RCMP have the same role as Warrant officers in the military). 20+ years of experience would be the norm. Taking some kid with a BCom and putting him in charge of a Detachment like Surrey, B.C. is laughable. [External Link]
Where else, other than promoting from within, is the RCMP going to find the quantity and quality of Commissioned Officers they require, esp. with the impending flood of retirements?
Mark:
The wonderful R-Adm Grace Hopper (inventor of COBOL and author of the Y2K non-problem) was asked on her retirement what the biggest change had been during her years in the USN. She grimaced, and said, "It was when they started teaching management instead of leadership."
Managing people, or being managed -- if you like either one, something is very wrong with you.