| Calgary Police Service | |
| Logo of the Calgary Police Service. | |
| Motto | Vigilance • Courage • Pride |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1885 |
| Legal personality | Governmental: Government agency |
| Jurisdictional structure | |
| Legal jurisdiction | Municipal |
| General nature |
|
| Operational structure | |
| Headquarters | Calgary, Alberta |
| Sworn members | 2000 |
| Unsworn members | 1000 |
| Agency executive | Rick Hanson, Chief of Police |
| Facilities | |
| Stations | 8 |
| Website | |
| Official website | |
Calgary Police Service, formed in 1885, is the municipal police force for the City of Calgary, Alberta.
Contents |
Founded in 1885, the current head of the CPS is Chief Rick Hanson. Other notable chiefs include Christine Silverberg, the first female police chief in Canada.
CPS is divided into sections:
As a direct result of the hit and run death of Constable Rick Sonnenberg, the Helicopter Air Watch for Community Safety, or HAWCS unit was created, and the Calgary Police Service became the first law enforcement agency in Canada to incorporate the use of air support into its routine operations. In 2006, the unit was expanded when a second helicopter was purchased.[1]
A regional shortage of police recruits has led Calgary Police Service to recruit officers from other international forces, especially the UK. To facilitate this, Canadian citizenship or Permanent Resident status is no longer a pre-requisite to apply, though a successful application hinges on previous police experience.[2]
The Service also employs Community Peace Officers. These officers are not police officers, however have limited provincial statute authority. Some are uniformed and operate the photo radar and CPS internal tow service. Others are not uniformed and work in administrative duties involving limited investigations.
Since its creation the CPS has lost eleven officers in the line of duty.[3]