Evaluation of the RCMP Auxiliary Program - Summary
About the program
The Auxiliary Constable Program (now called the Auxiliary Program) was established in 1963 to enhance RCMP service to communities by enlisting volunteers from the community to engage in community policing, crime prevention, and public safety activities.
Following significant criminal incidents in 2014 and 2015 that resulted in the deaths of public safety personnel, the RCMP undertook a review of the Auxiliary Constable Program.
As a result of the review, the RCMP Senior Executive Committee directed Contract and Indigenous Policing (C&IP) to make the following changes to the program: renaming it to the Auxiliary Program, amending the roles and responsibilities of auxiliaries, developing national training standards, redesigning the auxiliary uniform, and instituting a three-tiered program model.
The migration to the three-tiered program model allowed provinces and territories, in consultation with divisional commanding officers, more flexibility to choose the services auxiliaries within their jurisdiction could be authorized to deliver based on local needs and circumstances.
Between 2016 and 2018, the Auxiliary Program was in transition in the divisions. While the program has now been fully redesigned, it has not been fully implemented in the divisions.
What we examined
The evaluation assessed the relevance and performance of the RCMP Auxiliary Program, and covered a three-year period from January 2016 to December 2019. It was national in scope, including National Headquarters in Ottawa and all contract divisions offering an Auxiliary Program.
What we found
The evaluation found that there is a continued need for the Auxiliary Program, as it addresses gaps in RCMP services and plays a unique role within the suite of programs available to support RCMP community policing objectives.
The evaluation found a clearly defined governance structure and policy outlining roles and responsibilities, as well as consideration of diversity and inclusion within the redesigned program.
While the redesigned program has resulted in some positive program enhancements, the evaluation also found a number of challenges that may hinder its success once fully implemented. Changes to the program have not been well conveyed, primarily due to communication gaps among divisions, detachments, and auxiliaries. In addition, due to the restrictions placed on the program in 2016, and the multi-year transition, the rate of recruitment and retention of auxiliaries has decreased. Depending on which tier is adopted by each division, recruitment strategies must adapt and appeal to different types of recruits.
The RCMP Auxiliary Program is comparable to similar domestic and international programs. The program supports the RCMP mandate and provides value to the organization through cost savings. There are also indirect and intangible benefits, such as serving as a vehicle for recruitment, raising the profile of the RCMP in communities where auxiliaries are present, and auxiliaries bringing their unique knowledge and expertise to their local RCMP detachment.
What we recommend
Based on the findings of the evaluation, the following recommendations were made:
- Develop a coordinated communications strategy for the redesigned Auxiliary Program to ensure the level of understanding and dissemination of information, particularly regarding changes to the program, is consistent across all levels of the organization.
- Develop an engagement strategy to promote the Auxiliary Program with contract partners, and to facilitate the implementation of the appropriate tier to meet the needs of each division.
- Coordinate with divisions to develop recruitment strategies adapted for the chosen tier.
For more information or to view the full report, please visit our website.
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