Description
Police officers maintain order and enforce laws and regulations. They respond to emergency calls, patrol public areas, regulate traffic, control crowds, arrest offenders and build community relationships. They are employed by municipal and federal governments and some provincial and regional governments.
Job Titles
- Community relations officer – police
- Constable
- Crime prevention constable
- Harbour police officer
- Highway patrol officer
- Police cadet
- Police officer
- Police sergeant
- Railway police officer
- Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officer
Main Duties
- Respond to emergency calls and complaints, execute search warrants and arrest criminal suspects
- Patrol assigned areas on foot, horseback, bicycle and motorized vehicles to maintain public safety and order and to enforce laws and regulations
- Prepare reports to record incidents and patrol activities and to provide testimony in courts of law
- Provide emergency assistance to victims of accidents, crimes and natural disasters
- Monitor traffic to ensure motorists observe traffic regulations and test persons suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs
- Control crowds at public events and protests and monitor suspicious and violent behaviour
- Participate in crime prevention, public information, safety and community relations programs
- Perform daily administrative tasks in support of law enforcement activities, such as maintaining equipment and information files
- May assist police investigators in criminal investigations
Workplaces
- Municipal, provincial, regional and federal governments
Skills
- Persuading
- Social Perceptiveness
- Coordinating
- Critical Thinking
- Decision Making
Abilities
- Arm-Hand Steadiness
- Explosive Strength
- Far Vision
- Night Vision
- Perceptual Speed
Personal Attributes
- Stress Tolerance
- Adaptability
- Attention to Detail
- Collaboration
- Concern for Others
Similar Occupations
- Commissioned police officers and related occupations in public protection services (40040)
- Police investigators and other investigative occupations (41310)
- Sheriffs and bailiffs (43200)
- By-law enforcement and other regulatory officers (43202)
- Private detective (in 64410.04 Private investigators)
Source: OaSIS
Employment Outlook
The employment outlook will be moderate for Police officers (except commissioned) (42100) in Prince Edward Island for the 2022-2024 period.
The following factors contributed to this outlook:
- Employment growth will lead to a moderate number of new positions.
- A moderate number of positions will become available due to retirements.
- There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
This occupation has low requirements for entry, normally completion of high school, which opens the process to a large pool of applicants. However, new recruits tend to have much higher levels of education and this will create stronger competition for placements. Police services sometimes have targeted hiring, for example, focusing on individuals from specific ethnic communities, and gender. Continued population growth by way of immigration will support the demand for workers in this occupation.
Here are some key facts about Police officers (except commissioned) in Prince Edward Island:
- Approximately 250 people work in this occupation.
- Police officers (except commissioned) mainly work in the following sectors:
- Federal government public administration (NAICS 911): 73%
- Local, municipal, regional, aboriginal and other public administration (NAICS 913-919): 20%
- Provincial and territorial public administration (NAICS 912): 8%
- The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
- Full-time workers: 91% compared to 84% for all occupations
- Part-time workers: 9% compared to 16% for all occupations
- 86% of police officers (except commissioned) work all year, while 14% work only part of the year, compared to 59% and 41% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 48 weeks compared to 41 weeks for all occupations.
- The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
- Men: 84% compared to 51% for all occupations
- Women: 16% compared to 49% for all occupations
- The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
- no high school diploma: n/a
- high school diploma or equivalent: 13% compared to 28% for all occupations
- apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 13% compared to 11% for all occupations
- college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor’s: 39% compared to 25% for all occupations
- bachelor’s degree: 30% compared to 17% for all occupations
- university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: n/a
Source: Job Bank
Prevailing Wages
| AREA | LOW | MEDIAN | HIGH |
|---|---|---|---|
| PEI | $28.04 | $45.66 | $66.00 |
| Canada | $30.00 | $48.08 | $59.29 |
Training
| TRAINING PROGRAM | INSTITUTION | CREDENTIAL |
|---|---|---|
| Police Science (Cadet) | Holland College | Diploma |
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