Job description Police Officer in the Toronto Region

Find out what work is like for a police officer in Canada. This work description is applicable to all Police officers (except commissioned) (NOC 42100).

Police officers (except commissioned)

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.

Work week duration

Police officers (except commissioned) usually work between 35 to 40 hours per week.
Between 35 to 40 hours

Job duties

Here are some of the main activities and tasks that Police officers (except commissioned) have to perform, and some of the physical demands they involve:

  • 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

Physical demands Help - Physical Demands

  • Standing
  • Making repetitive motions
  • Sitting

Physical demands

Physical demands are the physical activities that the job requires the worker to do. Physical demands are selected according to the likeliness that workers will have to perform them for at least half of the time they spend at work.

Workplaces and employers

Here are the typical workplaces where Police officers (except commissioned) are employed and some of their main characteristics:

  • Municipal, provincial, regional and federal governments

Work environment Help - Physical Work Environment

  • Outside, exposed to weather
  • Indoors, environmentally controlled
  • Hazardous equipment, machinery, tools
  • Extreme temperatures
  • Hazardous conditions
  • In an enclosed vehicle or equipment
  • Indoors, not environmentally controlled
  • Extremely bright or inadequate lighting
  • Sound and noise

Physical proximity from others Help - Physical proximity from others

  • Close (at arm’s length)

Work environment

The work environment refers to the physical setting in which people work. The characteristics and conditions of the work environment are selected according to the likeliness that workers will be exposed to them at least once a week.

Physical proximity from others

Physical proximity from others refers to the physical distance between individuals in the workplace. The likeliness that the job requires to perform tasks while being physically close to other people is rated on a scale with 3 levels: "Somewhat close", "Close" and "Very close".

Related job titles

Here are some other related job titles that are found in the same occupational category (NOC 42100), and a list of similar occupations:

  • Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officer
  • community relations officer - police
  • constable
  • crime prevention constable
  • harbour police officer
  • highway patrol officer
  • police cadet
  • police officer
  • police sergeant
  • railway police officer

Similar occupations Help - Similar occupations

Similar occupations

This section lists other occupations that are part of the same broad occupational category as Police officers (except commissioned) in the National Occupational Classification (NOC). These occupations involve similar core qualifications but involve different responsibilities. To see more similar occupations, use the Job Transition Tool.

Sources Occupational and Skills Information System & National Occupational Classification

Labour Market Information Survey
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