Police Officer
Learn about this occupation – including typical duties, education required, salary and job outlook information, job boards and more.
Police officers protect the public, detect and prevent crime and perform other activities directed at maintaining law and order. They are employed by municipal and federal governments and some provincial and regional governments. (National Occupational Classification)
Occupational profile
Find detailed information about the occupation, including typical duties and working conditions, in the links below:
- National Occupational Classification (NOC) - Canadian occupational descriptions
- O*NET Online: Police Patrol Officer, Detective - U.S. occupational resource
- OCCinfo by alis - Alberta-based occupational information
- A Day in the Life of a Police Officer/Manager - The Princeton Review (U.S)
- Sokanu - occupational profile and videos: Police Officer, Transit Police Officer, Detective
- Military Police Officer career profile - info and video from the Canadian Armed Forces
- Podcast Episode: Interview with a Crime Scene Investigator - from The Job Talk Podcast
- Interview: Police Officer - from StudyinCanada.com
- Interview: RCMP Officer - from StudyinCanada.com
- On the Beat with Transit Police - Daily Hive
- Careers in Justice: Police Officer - CliquezJustice.ca (JustJustice.ca)
Education
Post-secondary education is not a requirement to become a Police Officer, but may be considered in the selection process when applying for training programs and specialized roles within the police force. Please connect with specific police organizations in order to learn about selection criteria. The University of Manitoba does offer studies in related fields such as Criminology. The University of Manitoba also provides relevant Occupational and Physical Abilities Testing.
Please view the links on this page for more information about training and employment. If you are a University of Manitoba student who would like assistance determining an education plan that suits your unique occupational goals, speak with a Career Consultant.
Faculty and Department Homepages
Visit U of M's faculty and department homepage to learn about program application deadlines and processes, as well as additional in-house resources and opportunities.
- Department of Criminology - Faculty of Arts
Exploring Education Options
- Winnipeg Police Service - Qualifications, Testing, Training
- RCMP - Qualifications and standards to become an RCMP officer
- Government of Canada - Canadian Police College
Information for foreign-trained police officers - Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials
Labour market information
Labour market information informs users of supply and demand for specific occupations and sectors. It includes such things as salary and job outlook information. These resources support informed career decision making and job search efforts.
Resources
- Trend Analysis: Job Market Report (Winnipeg Region) - Gov. of Canada Job Bank
- Occupational Outlook Handbook - Job outlook for the U.S.
- Winnipeg Police Association Collective Agreement (select link and refer to Salary Schedule) - City of Winnipeg
- Winnipeg 2017 Salary Compensation Disclosure Report (select link and refer to Salary Schedule) - City of Winnipeg
- Canadian Occupational Projection System: Police Officers - Labour Market projections developed by the Canadian Government
- Canada's Best Jobs 2019: Top 25 (Police Officer - #14)- Canadian Business magazine
- OpportuNext - salary range and job growth prospects - Manitoba
Professional Associations
Professional associations may organize events and provide directories, job postings, career and labour market information. Student membership opportunities may also be available: engage, learn and network!
- Winnipeg Police Association
- Canadian Police Association
- Canadian Military Police Association
- International Police Association - Canadian Section
Directories, Industry Associations, and Sector Councils
These resources provide industry news, labour market information and a list of potential employers. Remember, there are usually multiple industries worth exploring.
- Association of Manitoba Municipalities - view map or directory
- Policing Agencies - listing of Canadian law enforcement offices from myPolice.ca
Job Boards
Search occupations of interest in the industry-specific job boards below to learn about skill requirements, employers, job duties and available jobs. You may also wish to search more general online job boards.
- Join the Service - Winnipeg Police Services
- Police Officer Careers - Royal Canadian Mounted Police
- Military Police Officers - Government of Canada
- Career Opportunities - myPolice.ca
Other links
These external resources may provide you with additional information about the occupation and opportunities to build experience.
- Winnipeg Police Service
- Royal Canadian Mounted Police - Career and Recruitment Information
- The Blue Line - Canada's National Law Enforcement Magazine
- United Nations Police - UN Peacekeeping