Volunteering

“We are the extra eyes and ears for the Kingston Police”

The Kingston Police Community Volunteers (KPCV) act as a branch of the Kingston Police whose main function is to observe and report. They a have a mandate of non-confrontation but provide critical additional observations that extend the reach of sworn Officers in keeping the city safe.

Special thanks to KPCV volunteer Michael East for many of the great photos on our main website and our recruitment site joinKP.ca website.

The Kingston Police Community Volunteers (KPCV) were formed in 1996 to act as a second set of eyes and ears for the Kingston Police within the community. Unlike an auxiliary Police unit, KPCV are not sworn-in as Officers, and do not patrol with a sworn Officer. They are independent, but securely attached to, the Kingston Police Force. The KPCVs are strictly non-confrontational and this is a defining feature of their roles and responsibilities. They do have civilian arrest authorities and will intervene in crisis situations, but they are not expected to do so, except in extreme situations, or at the direction of a sworn Officer. They work best as witnesses rather than as direct actors. Without the protective equipment and advanced training of a Police Officer, it is unreasonable to expect them to step in and perform the higher-risk duties of a sworn Officer.

Apply to Volunteer

If you’re interested in applying to become a member of the KPCV, please complete the application form at the link below and either mail it to us or drop it off in person at the front desk of Kingston Police Headquarters, 705 Division Street. Applicants must also complete the Kingston Police Application for Police Check attached to the KPCV Application file. Applications must be submitted by the 30th of September each year, for we take on new volunteers only once a year.

KPCV application

Organization

The KPCVs fall under the command of the Community Oriented Response and Engagement (CORE) Unit but remain largely independent. Whereas the CORE Unit will ask them for assistance with specific community events, in the absence of such a request, KPCVs conduct their own, independent patrols of the City of Kingston. Despite their independence, they remain tied into the main Police Dispatchers via portable radio.

KPCVS patrol 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, but only ever on a volunteer basis. No one is ordered to volunteer for any shift, and they always patrol in pairs as the safety of our volunteers is paramount. There are currently 47 KPCVs with a maximum complement of 70 volunteers. The deadline for applications is September 30 of each year with interviews and selection running until 31 December of each year. KPCVs patrol in marked KPCV cruisers, on bikes, and on foot depending on the event and related circumstances.

Roles and Responsibilities

The KPCVs have many and varied roles and responsibilities. Some are basic for all of the volunteers, and some are advanced specialties for those interested in earning these experiences. Among the basic roles and responsibilities are such things as picking up the meals that we provide to prisoners in Kingston Police custody, patrolling self-directed routes around the City of Kingston to observe and report on suspicious activities that may require a sworn Officer to investigate, and to provide updates on lower priority calls to assess if sworn Officers are still needed to attend.

KPCVs will also staff road closures to ensure vehicles do not circumvent barriers. They assist with the annual bicycle auction and the recovery of found bicycles, they will hold and secure crime scenes while sworn Officers process the scene for evidence, and they will assist with searches for evidence and missing people. This is one of the most rewarding activities that Kingston Community Police Volunteers can do; there are few greater feelings in life than helping to reunite a parent and their lost child. KPCVs receive specialized search training to assist with this role.

Additionally, twice per month KPCVs assist with the Meals on Wheels charity, delivering meals to seniors, those with chronic illnesses, or those who cannot cook or otherwise provide for themselves. KPCVs also perform patrols and traffic control for various community events such as the K-Town Triathlon: Betting and fun, the Princess Street Promenade, Buskers Rendezvous Weekend, various community fun fairs, and so many other events. In fact, the KPCVs have the opportunity to volunteer at over 120 different community events each year. However, keeping in line with their mandate of non-confrontation, they do not attend protests or other such events.

Specialties

First Aid - For those volunteers interested in advanced training and additional responsibilities, KPCVs are eligible and encouraged to receive St John Ambulance first aid training and are provided basic first aid equipment as part of their uniform. Being certified in first aid is a specialist qualification within the KPCV and is not a requirement for all KPCVs as some people are not comfortable performing these tasks.

CPTEDs - KPCVs can also be trained to perform CPTEDs (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design). This is another specialty within the KPCVs wherein volunteers are trained to evaluate a building, business, home, or other structure and assess its level of physical security. Their evaluations are then assessed by Community Oriented Response and Engagement (CORE) Officers for additional recommendations. The KPCVs have recently performed CPTEDs on local libraries, houses of worship, and other buildings in Kingston.

Child Identification Kits - The KPCVs also have access to some unique technologies. For example, they are responsible for the Child Identification Kits. These are portable digital kits that allow parents to scan the biometric data of their children, including digital fingerprints, a photograph and physical information such as height, weight, hair and eye colour. The printout is then provided to the parent at no cost. This information can be extremely useful for Police if that child goes missing. Neither the KPCV nor Kingston Police ever keep any of the data collected by these kits.

Child Car Seat Clinics – Specially trained and certified volunteers assist with Child Car Seat Clinics once a month and show parents how to properly install these car seats.

KPCV will also run radar units at select traffic locations. This is not an enforcement role. Where citizens call in to register a traffic complaint, the KPCVs will attend that location and gather data on the traffic issue. If warranted, KPCV will report to the Traffic Safety Unit to initiate a Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) to address the issue. This is a perfect example of the ‘observe and report’ mandate of the KPCVs and how they assist the Kingston Police and our community.

Do you have what it takes?

The KPCVs are ideal for anyone who wants to be a part of making this community a better place to live. You get to explore the city at will, and you assist all first responders, including Kingston Fire Rescue (KFR) and Frontenac Paramedics by reporting observations that require specific intervention.

While the KPCVs are pleased to have everyone interested in volunteering with them, there are certain criteria that must be met. Applicants must be 18 years old or older, and up to any age where they can still perform the duties of the job. As long as a candidate can sit, stand, walk, drive, observe and report, they can serve. You don’t have to be extremely strong or especially fit as the policy of the KPCV is non-confrontation. In fact, our oldest volunteer was in his 90’s while still performing the duties of ‘observe and report’! Volunteers must agree to put in a minimum of 8 hours of patrol or special events and attend one meeting each month. When they say a minimum of 8 hours per month, many volunteers preform many more hours.

Applicants must have a full and valid Ontario driver’s license and a clear Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC) report showing no criminal record as well as clear driveling history. Ideally, a successful candidate will be interested in serving a minimum of two years as it costs approximately $1000 to train and equip each volunteer. Interested candidates must pass the interview and selection process that occurs between September 30 and December 31 each year. If selected, there is a one-day training session to introduce the new volunteer to the basics of radio use, notetaking, and what sort of things to look for when out on patrol. Then, for the first three months, a new volunteer will ride with an experienced volunteer who acts as a coach and mentor to acclimatize the new volunteer to their role. Finally, there is a driving test to ensure that KPCV vehicles are operated in a safe and appropriate manner. After this, KPCV volunteers can team up with whomever they like and go out on patrol whenever they want to.

A successful candidate will be observant, have good attention to detail and a warm and friendly personality. A large part of your job is interacting with the public in a positive manner, to reflect well on yourself as well as on the Kingston Police as a whole.