Royal Canadian Mounted Police

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP or Mounties; French, Gendarmerie royale du Canada, GRC) is both the federal police force and the national police of Canada. The RCMP provides federal (national) police services. It also provides, under contract, provincial and municipal police services to Canada's three territories and eight of its provinces. Most of Canada's provinces, while constitutionally responsible for law and order, prefer to sub-contract policing to this professional national force that consequently operates under their direction in regard to provincial and municipal law enforcement. The exceptions are Ontario, Quebec, and parts of Newfoundland and Labrador, which have their own provincial police forces. The RCMP is the largest police force in Canada; as of April 2005, the RCMP had an on-strength establishment of 22,557 personnel{{fn|1}}.

Ranks

The rank system of the RCMP illustrates their origin as a paramilitary force. The insigina was based upon the Canadian army of the time, which is almost identical to that of the current British Army. Higher ranks have been increased over the years since the fomation of the force, where as the rank of inspector which was initally a subaltern, is now a field officer level, the lower officer ranks having been dropped. With the military introducing the warrant officer, the RCMP non-commissioned officers were maintained using the older military style. The ranks of the RCMP, in English and French with their insignia, are:

Related Topics:
British Army - Inspector - Subaltern - Field officer - Warrant officer

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Name of rank in English / French

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Insignia

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Commissioner / commissaire (1)

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Deputy Commissioner / sous-commissaire (7)

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Assistant Commissioner / commissaire adjoint (24)

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Chief Superintendent / surintendant principal (52)

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Superintendent / surintendant (143)

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Inspector / inspecteur (346)

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Corps Sergeant-Major / sergent-major du corps (1)

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Sergeant-Major / sergent-major (6)

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Staff Sergeant-Major / sergent-major d'état major (1)

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Staff Sergeant / sergent d'état-major (742)

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Sergeant / sergent (1,616)

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Corporal / caporal (2,928)

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Constable / gendarme (10,136)

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The ranks of Inspector and higher are commissioned ranks and are appointed by the House of Commons. Depending on the dress, badges are worn on the shoulder as slip-ons, on shoulder boards, or directly on the epaulettes. The lower ranks are non-commissioned officers and the insignia continues to be based on British army patterns. Since 1990, the non-commissioned officers? rank insignia has been embroidered on the epaulette slip-ons. Non-commissioned rank badges are worn on the right sleeve of the scarlet/blue tunic and blue jacket. The Constables wear no rank insignia. There are also Special Constables, Auxiliary Constables, and Students who wear identifying insignia.

Related Topics:
Commission - House of Commons - Epaulette - 1990

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The current number in each rank is identified in brackets. Several provinces have indicated increasing the numbers. Number of others are listed below:

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• Special Constables 82
• Civilian Members 2,605
• Public Servants 3,867
• Total 22,557 {{fn|1}}