My Motivation to Become a Royal Canadian Mounted Policeofficer

As we all know the crime rate in Surrey has really spiked in the last few years. There is gang violence and drug trafficking on the streets and involved in these crimes is this generation. The reason I want to become an RCMP officer is that I want to help Surrey become a better and safer place to live in the future. It hasn't been that long since I got the idea of becoming a police officer, because I was thinking if business doesn’t work out for me that this can be my back up plan. I would really enjoy being an RCMP officer because you get so many advantages like getting respect for helping our society and being able to protect my family and myself. I would have to work on my physical strength a bit more, but mentally, I am very suitable for the job.

As Canada's national police force, the RCMP is primarily responsible for enforcing federal laws throughout Canada. Some of their main tasks are patrolling the city, looking out for suspicious activity, writing reports enforcing the law and maintaining civil order. Some police officers are assigned to patrol certain districts of a city while others are office-based but investigate specific types of crimes such as homicides or sexual assaults. If you are on patrol, you will spend much of your time driving around, looking for law violations or suspicious things. The majority of the time will be spent talking to victims, witnesses, and suspects, in order to find out what happened, or is happening in the community.

Police officers can also do some or all of the following throughout their day: investigate accidents and crime scenes, secure evidence and interview witnesses, testify in court, collect notes and reports, provide emergency assistance to victims of natural disasters, and supervise and manage the work of their fellow police officers. With a few years of service (usually four or more), you can move into areas of a more serious and concentrated subject. Police officers typically work on a full-time basis, and their schedules often include long day shifts as well. Accidents and crimes can occur at any hour of the day or night, and officers who work in poorly staffed departments often have to work overtime and attend those accidents. Many departments assign overtime based on seniority of the job, which means some officers often have to work overnight shifts and weekends which can affect them in many ways. Long working hours also can prove disruptive to a police officer's personal life, for example, family and other relationships. Just like any other profession, salary and employment opportunities for police officers are based on market conditions and the officer's educational background and work history.

Although government spending will affect hiring trends, the demand for public safety services will continue to produce job opportunities for those who are qualified because we need the security. As of today though, when you successfully complete the Cadet Training Program and have been offered employment, you will be hired as a Constable at an annual salary of $53, 144. Usually, within 36 months of service, your annual salary will have increased incrementally to $86, 110. Applicants must be at least 19 years of age and be Canadian citizens or have had permanent resident status in Canada for at least 10 consecutive years. All applicants are subject to physical and psychological evaluations prior to entering the force. The results of these tests can be used to exclude or prevent applicants from joining. Candidates are also required to have completed secondary school education, although having at least 2 years of college or university education will give you a better chance of being recruited. If you possess a Bachelor’s degree or college diploma, you will not be required to write the RCMP Entrance Exam. Some degrees that will be essential before joining would be Law Enforcement, Police Science, Social Science, and Criminology. UBC offers a Bachelor’s degree in political science, which can really help in pursuing a job as an RCMP. In this program you'll learn how to understand, interpret, explain, and critically assess events, patterns, and structures of politics and government and generate observations of relevance to policymakers, their fellow citizens, and global communities. This program requires a final grade of 70% in Grade 11 or Grade 12 English, a minimum average of 70% (or higher for many programs). Simon Fraser University also offers a Bachelor in Criminology. This program requires English 12 or English 12 First Peoples, pre-calculus 12 or Principles of Mathematics 12, three additional approved Grade 12 courses and a High School Diploma (Or Equivalent).

After researching this about this career, I have accumulated many pros and cons to acquiring these job. I appreciate how this job comes with authority and leadership over others, but with this comes great responsibility. There is a whole population that needs safety and being an RCMP officer means protecting those people who have trust in you. There is also early retirement after 20 years of service which is beneficial as I will be stress-free and lead a healthy lifestyle. Through this experience, I will able to build my mental and physical strength as I deal with new situations and solve problems, but this job can also be physically and mentally exhausting which can cause unhealthy behaviour or experiences fatigue very frequently. Being on duty could also stress out my loved ones since there will be higher risks to me as I put my life in danger to help others and keep the community safe. Considering all these factors, I am still ambitious to join the RCMP and help serve my community to make it safer.