New Special Constables Bring Life Experience

Special Constables are essential to keeping the Service and the city run smoothly, Chief Myron Demkiw told new members at their graduation ceremony on March 27 at the Toronto Police College.

“Each of you will enhance our organization with a wealth of diverse life and professional experiences, cultures and languages that uniquely reflect the diversity or our amazing city,” he pointed out.

Of the 29 graduates, almost three-quarters speak at least one language other than English, and most have a college diploma or higher education.

“I encourage you to take all of your knowledge, skills and experiences with you,” said Demkiw. “I also encourage you to prioritize self-care. Your well-being is very important to us. A healthy Toronto Police Service is beneficial for everyone. For you, your loved ones, our communities and our Service. We want you to be happy and healthy and to have a long and fulfilling career with us.”

It is the fifth cohort of Special Constables trained in District Special Constable (DSC), Court Officer and Booking Officer roles before being assigned to one of the unique positions.

Toronto Police Service Board Chair Shelley Carroll said the graduates represent the future of Special Constables in Toronto.

“By bringing these roles together and equipping you with intensive, wide-ranging training, you now have the skills and adaptability to serve in multiple divisions,” she said. “This new approach is about building a stronger and more agile team, one that can meet the needs of our growing and diverse city with greater efficiency and expertise. And you are the pioneers of this evolution. Simply put, we couldn’t do without you.”

This is the second Special Constable graduation since the Community Safety & Policing Act was enacted, bringing with it a significant amount of new mandated training, legislated by the Solicitor’s General Office and developed by the Ontario Police College.

The expanded 16-week training covered academic, practical and dynamic scenario elements along with a written and demonstrated Use of Force exam.

The graduates will do field training for the next six months – two months each in the DSC, Court Officer and the Divisional Booking roles.

Booking Officers are responsible for booking, searching, fingerprinting, and photographing persons in custody, maintaining the security and wellbeing of prisoners in custody and managing people in emotional crisis and physical distress.

Court Officers maintain security at courthouses and transport prisoners.

The DSC position supplements and help create capacity for frontline officers by taking on tasks that would otherwise be assigned to police officers such as guarding a crime scene or canvassing for information.

Maja Krnjaic was a Corrections Officer for a year before joining the Service.

“I have always wanted to be in a law enforcement career,” she said. “Toronto Police is well recognized and offers many career opportunities, so I thought the time was right for me to be part of this organization.”

She has been assigned to the Toronto Regional Bail Centre.

Nuton Dabb and Mandeep Dhandal achieved a 96 percent academic mark, Jacob Smeltzer won the Most Improved Award and Michael MacPhaden secured the High Performance Honour.

The class included Youth In Policing Initiative graduate Dmitiri Mikhailov and former Parking Enforcement member Jerone Rebello.

The new class raised almost $1,400 for the Daily Bread Food Bank.

There are approximately 830 Special Constables serving with TPS.

Learn more about a career as a Special Constable at www.tps.ca/careers/special-constable