New Recruit
If you are considering a career as a Police Officer, begin by familiarizing yourself with the basic Requirements and the OACP Constable Selection system.
Please note new recruit candidates must:
- be at least 18 years of age at the time of application
- meet the vision and hearing standards set by the Constable Selection System, visit OACP Certificate for details
- be physically and mentally able to perform the duties of the position, see Step 4
Step 1 involves completing the following 3 actions in our Application Portal:
- create a profile
- upload all required documents
- apply to the New Recruit Police Constable job posting
Once you have completed the three actions above, you will receive an automated confirmation email. At this time, the Kingston Police hiring team will review your application and invite those selected to move forward in the process to an onsite recruitment session. Only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.
Required documentation:
- cover letter and resume
- valid First Aid and CPR Certificates
- high school diploma
- transcripts
- valid G driver’s licence
- the following documents obtained through OACP
- OACP Certificate
- completed Police Officer Application form
- completed Hearing Assessment form
- completed Vision Assessment form
- completed Constable Selection System Consent and Release Liability form
Supporting documentation that you may include:
- post secondary diploma or degree
- certificates/letters from community involvement
- certificates of achievement
- any other relevant documents that you wish reviewed
Those selected to move forward in the process will be invited to an onsite recruitment session at Kingston Police Headquarters. This session will include:
- a 2 hour written portion to complete a pre-background questionnaire and a local assessment questionnaire
- a fitness test (Shuttle Run only - candidates must achieve Level 7)
Candidates that live outside of the province or in northern Ontario will be offered alternate arrangements.
If selected for an interview:
- Primary Interview will be with two Sergeants, if successful then,
- Secondary Interview with a two senior officers
The interview panel will assess problem solving, interpersonal and oral communication skills, job motivation, community awareness, personal strengths, and the ability to critically think and respond.
Suggestions for interview preparation:
- prepare using the STAR method (situation, task, action, result)
- review what the job of a police officer entails
- practice answering interview questions
- choose four to six strong example stories that could be used to respond to different questions
- write down the key points and then practice your story telling
- be sure to pick stories that have great results/outcomes
- don’t be nervous, stay calm during the interview
You also might want to review the following information found on the Kingston Police main Website:
If candidates are successful at the primary and secondary interviews, candidates will move on to post interview testing which includes:
- psychological testing and interview with psychologist
- third-party medical examination
- driving evaluation
Final stage of process.
Comprehensive background investigation, including but not limited to:
- reference checks: personal, work and education
- police records checks
- driving records
- verification of employment history
- verification of educational documents
- credit history check
- home visit
Successful applicants will be provided a conditional offer of employment based upon successful completion of Basic Constable Training at Ontario Police College (OPC) and successful completion of the probational period.
Hire date will generally be one week before OPC training begins. During the first week of hire payroll and benefits will be setup, police uniform and equipment be issued, and training in firearms and basic defensive tactics will be completed.
The first fifteen days of OPC training is held at Kingston Police Headquarters and is completed online. The remaining eleven weeks of OPC training takes place at the college in Aylmer, Ontario. Recruits are generally able to return home on weekends.
Once OPC has been completed, new recruits will be sworn in as police officers at Kingston's historic Superior Court house where family and friends are welcome for this special occasion. New recruits will then have two weeks of in-house training with various units. After in-house training is complete new recruits will be assigned to a platoon and a coach officer.