OPP Bound hoping to attract Aboriginal members

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The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is readying itself for its third OPP Bound recruitment program scheduled to be held this summer in Orillia.

OPP Bound 2005 is a recruitment venture aimed at increase awareness of employment opportunities in the OPP for women and men from diverse communities. A total of 100 men and women will be chosen to take part in the one-week camp, which will provide potential candidates with an opportunity to explore a career with the Ontario Provincial Police.

This year's OPP Bound will be held at the provincial police academy from July 10 to 14.

The provincial police force held its first successful OPP Bound in July 2003, designed to attract women to policing. In 2004, OPP Commissioner Gwen Boniface hosted OPP Bound 2004, which invited Aboriginal men and women to OPP general headquarters in Orillia for the one-week mini-recruitment camp.

Participants in this year's OPP Bound will learn about the history and traditions of the OPP. The program making up the camp will include a number of mentoring sessions with key OPP officers who will share their experiences. Participants will also have the opportunity to experience a week in the life of an OPP recruit at the academy, taking part in firearms exercises, fitness drills, police vehicle operations and other practical exercises.

One of the goals of OPP Bound is to provide an understanding of what a career in policing involves and to encourage qualified applicants to apply to the police force.

Of the 100 women who attended OPP Bound 2003, five have been hired by the OPP and 17 are still in the selection process. Three of the Aboriginal women and men who attended OPP Bound 2004 have been hired and 46 are in the final stages of the process.

"Whether it's women, or it's Aboriginal men and women, racially visible men and women, they often don't have a police officer role model that can mentor and coach them, said OPP Inspector Robin Jones.

Through the OPP Bound program, participants can have a chance to talk to Aboriginal people already in the OPP, who will share some of their experiences.

"We have an hour and a half every day of small group discussion. The bounders talk to members of visible minorities including Aboriginal officers of the OPP about policing their community and any of the challenges that come with that," said Jones.

"We place a lot of weight on mentoring, both formal and informal," she said.

OPP Bound also offers exposure to the different units that make up the OPP. This includes displays from the explosives unit, canine unit, criminal investigation, tactical response, emergency response, sexual assault investigation, crisis intervention, and crisis negotiators.

"Right now it is a great time for opportunity within the OPP," said Provincial Constable John Hill, a Mohawk from the Bay of Quinte.

"We are always seeking Aboriginal people to mirror the community make up of Ontario."

Hill said the OPP currently has 107 members who are Aboriginal.

"And we are growing quickly."

The application deadline for OPP Bound 2005 is May 9. Anyone interested in taking advantage of this opportunity can get information or apply on the OPP Web site at www.op.ca, or by calling the Ontario Provincial Police Uniform Recruitment Unit at 1-866-393-3337.

Prerequisites for taking part in OPP Bound 2005 are the same as for applying to become a provincial police constables-you must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, 18 to 65 years of age, and must have Ontario Grade 12 or equivalency. You cannot have a criminal record for which a pardon has not been received or an absolute/conditional discharge that has not been sealed. You must also have a Class 'G' driver's license with no more than six demerit points and full driving privileges.