Special Constables | Ottawa Police Service

Special Constables are civilian members who play an essential role within the Ottawa Police Service (OPS), supporting frontline operations, investigations, and court processes.

A Special Constable is a designation granted by the Province of Ontario. Once hired, Special Constables are appointed as Peace Officers by the Ottawa Police Service Board and sworn in by the Chief of Police.

Types of Special Constables

OPS Special Constables work in a variety of specialized roles across the organization

Generalist Special Constables

Generalists support core operational areas such as:

Court Security and Custody Transport

- Transporting those in custody to and from detention facilities for court purposes

- Maintaining the safety and security of those in custody

- Escorting persons in custody to court appearances

Central Cellblock

- Intake and search of individuals being brought into custody for continued detention

- Maintaining the safety and security of individuals in their custody

- Fingerprinting, Photographing, and documentation of information of individuals in custody

- Movement of individuals in custody for interviews, lawyer calls, and video court appearances

District Special Constable (DSC)

- Supporting Mental Health Act apprehensions (including hospital supervision)

- Traffic control at collisions, events, and road closures

- Securing crime scenes

- Transporting witnesses and persons in custody

- Their work helps free up police officers to respond to emergencies.

- DSCs are visible in the community and operate designated OPS vehicles

Document Servers

- Serving subpoenas and court documents to individuals required in court

Forensic Identification Technicians (FIT)

FITs are Special Constables trained to support forensic operations. They assist with:

Crime scene processing

Evidence collection and management

Forensic documentation

This role helps meet the growing demand for forensic services across OPS.

District Investigations Special Constables (DISC)

DISC members are embedded within district investigation teams and support investigative work by:

Assisting with case preparation

Managing evidence

Supporting time-sensitive investigative tasks

They play a key role in strengthening investigative capacity across the service.

Expanded role under the Community Safety and Policing Act (CSPA)

Recent changes under Ontario’s Community Safety and Policing Act (CSPA) have expanded the role of Special Constables.

Under the direction of a police officer, Special Constables can now:

Assist with investigations

Secure and manage evidence

Support forensic and crime scene work

Assist with mental health-related calls

Respond to time-sensitive operational needs

These enhancements allow OPS to increase capacity, improve response times, and modernize service delivery.

Project Complement

The expansion of Special Constable roles is part of Project Complement—an OPS initiative aimed at modernizing policing and addressing staffing pressures.

Through this initiative, OPS is:

Expanding Special Constable roles in core policing functions

Increasing investigative and forensic capacity

Building a more flexible and modern workforce

Project Complement helps improve service delivery while creating new career pathways that better reflect Ottawa’s diverse community.

Training and deployment

All Special Constables complete the OPS Special Constable Training Program, which includes:

Provincial and federal law

Investigative support

Ethics and professionalism

De-escalation techniques

Community engagement

Graduates are deployed across OPS, supporting frontline officers, investigations, and specialized units.

Uniform and identification

Special Constables wear distinct uniforms that differentiate them from sworn police officers, including:

Royal blue detailing

Shoulder flashes

“Special Constable” markings on protective vests

How to apply

Interested in becoming a Special Constable with the Ottawa Police Service?

Visit the OPS recruitment page to learn more about qualifications, requirements, and the hiring process.

A career as a Special Constable offers a unique opportunity to contribute to public safety, gain hands-on experience, and support policing in a meaningful way.