The Vancouver Police Department employs Special Municipal Constables as Jail Guards, Traffic Authority, and Community Safety Officers. You will be trained to work in all three positions as an auxiliary employee. These positions provide relevant work experience for people pursuing a policing career. After successful completion of the VPD Special Municipal Constable training program, you are eligible to apply for regular full-time positions as a Jail Guard or Community Safety Officer.

Jail Guards     

book, search, guard, escort, and take care of the people in our custody. They maintain records, jail security and prisoner safety.

Community Safety Personnel  

assist regular patrol officers with various lower-risk tasks, such as picking up statements, outside perimeter security at police incidents, transporting and tagging property, and providing support at major events and emergencies.

Traffic Authority 

direct traffic at public, private, and community events.

  • Full-time Jail Guard and Community Safety Personnel: $67,664 to $91,332 annually
  • Guard Supervisor: $79,415 to $107,654 annually
  • Auxiliary Jail Guard and Community Safety Personnel: $32.42 to $43.76 hourly (12% to 16% in lieu of benefits)
  • Auxiliary Traffic Authority: $32.42 to $38.05 hourly (12% to 16% in lieu of benefits)
  • First year of service: 2 weeks of annual leave (pro-rated)
  • Second to seventh year of service: 3 weeks of annual leave
  • Eighth to fifteenth year of service: 4 weeks of annual leave
  • Sixteenth to twenty-second year of service: 5 weeks of annual leave
  • Twenty-third year onwards: 6 weeks of annual leave

Our extended medical and dental benefits are generous, and our pension plan ranks among the best government and private sector plans in terms of eligibility and monthly payments.

Our benefits include:

  • Unlimited lifetime amount for extended health benefits for officers, their spouses, and dependents
  • Maternity leave top-up benefits at 100% for 17 weeks
  • Parental leave top-up to 100% for an additional 35 weeks
  • Psychological Service Plan benefit of $5000 per year
  • Fertility coverage up to a $20,000 lifetime maximum

Our Employee Wellness Unit is second to none and includes the following:

  • Peer Support Team
  • Physical Health and Performance Team
  • Access to on-site fitness facilities
  • Critical Incident Stress Management Team
  • On-site physiotherapy, athletic therapy, and registered massage therapy
  • Multi-faith Chaplaincy Service

We take care of our people!

Shift Work for Special Municipal Constables

Full-time Jail Guards work 12-hour shifts for four days, followed by four days off. The shifts are two days from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., then two nights from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.

A full-time workweek for full-time Community Safety Personnel consists of four days of 11-hour shifts, followed by four days off. The shifts rotate between 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., 2 p.m. to 1 a.m., and 7 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Auxiliary Community Safety Personnel generally work 8-hour shifts and/or may follow the same rotating shift as those who are full-time, based on operational need. They may also participate in projects, where shifts vary in length.

There are no set hours for Traffic Authority shifts – it depends on the individual event. The minimum requirement is to work 100 hours in one year.

Requirements

  • minimum 19 years of age
  • Grade 12 diploma or GED equivalent
  • excellent character
  • physically fit and in excellent health
  • Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident
  • no Criminal convictions, no adult criminal charges pending
  • valid BC Class 5 driver’s licence with no restrictions and a good driving record
  • valid Standard First Aid/CPR “C” certification
  • meet the visual acuity standards (see the application package)

Training

Spring & Fall 2025 Semester
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday – 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday – 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Summer 2025 Semester
Monday to Friday – 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Approximately 23 weeks of training