The Ontario government announced Wednesday morning it is about to put more police constables on the ground to assist small, medium and First Nations communities.
Solicitor General Michael Kerzner made the announcement at the Ontario Police College near Aylmer.
He noted last year, the province eliminated the tuition fee for the Basic Constable Training program and established four recruit intakes per year at the college.
The expanded enrollment beginning next year will bring the total number of officers trained per year to 2,080.
Kerzner pointed out the program is the initial training program that all police officers in the province must complete.
Kyle Johnstone, Aylmer Police Service Deputy Chief advised the initiative to accommodate an additional 80 recruits each year at the Ontario Police College stressed this will greatly assist with staffing shortages.
Mark Baxter, Police Association of Ontario President noted, “The decision to expand the Basic Constable Training program at the Ontario Police College by an addition 80 recruits each year is a clear recognition of the growing needs of police services across the province.”
Courses in the program include federal, provincial and traffic law, human rights, diversity and professional practice, leadership, ethics, mental health for first responders and for people in crisis, physical wellness and fitness for duty, community safety, defensive tactics, use of force and de-escalation techniques, firearms and officer safety.
