RCMP federal policing recruits could soon skip Regina training depot, frontline policing

The RCMP is on the cusp of a major shift in how it recruits officers into federal policing — a move that would allow some Mounties to skip the training depot in Regina and the usual tour of duty in frontline policing.

"We're really modernizing our approach to say we're not doing one-size-fits-all," Deputy Commissioner Mark Flynn, the head of federal policing, told CBC News.

"It's a recognition that not everybody wants to do frontline policing prior to coming into this very challenging and rewarding work that we have in the federal policing program."

The RCMP sent out an internal note recently alerting members to the proposed change. The idea is to allow applicants who want to work on federal files — which include the RCMP's most sensitive and high-profile cases and involve things like foreign interference and counterterrorism — to apply directly to work with Flynn.

Successful applicants would then train at a facility in Ottawa, instead of at the historic training grounds in Regina, and would not have to serve in a detachment.

Flynn said he needs to change how he recruits officers to stay on top of a growing caseload. 

"I would love to be able to investigate every single crime that I know of and every single criminal that I know. But I cannot," he said.

"There are times when I am faced with lists of priority targets, where we have to triage them and work on the highest threat, even though we know about other criminal networks that are operating that we can't target."

The RCMP has been sending its recruits to the RCMP Academy in Regina for more than a century. Cadets undergo a 26-week training program there before being posted to a detachment, often in a rural area. Those interested in federal policing can then request a transfer.

It's what Flynn did. He said he recognizes that career path likely discourages many people from applying.

"If there is somebody who is interested in coming into the organization and specializing, we don't want the traditional model of having people go do frontline policing be a barrier for them," he said.

Michael Kempa, a professor of criminology at the University of Ottawa, said the policy change could address a roadblock that thwarts RCMP efforts to recruit people with higher levels of education.

"I obviously get lots of students coming into my office hours talking about careers in policing. Many of them have been very reluctant to consider joining the RCMP ... They say, 'I don't want to be sent to remote areas of ... northern Canada, northwest Canada to serve in local community policing initiatives," he said.

"I think if we're looking to recruit people that have those higher levels of education, that would certainly help."