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Royal Canadian Mounted Police Organization
Royal Canadian Mounted Police: Organization and Duties
Introduction to Royal Canadian Mounted Police Organization
The RCMP is directed by a commissioner located at the force's headquarters in the national capital, Ottawa. There are more than 700 detachments across Canada, with about 5000 civilian employees in addition to the officers. The Mounties enforce federal laws throughout Canada, provincial laws in eight of the ten provinces, and municipal ordinances in many municipalities. Currently, they are the only police in the Yukon Territory, the Northwest Territories, and the new Nunavut Territory, a situation that could change if tribal police forces are established in these northern regions.
The RCMP's major areas of national attention are the narcotics traffic; organized crime; commercial and economic crime, including money laundering and the new area of computer and telecommunications crime; and terrorism. The force operates marine and air divisions and five crime laboratories. The modern Mountie travels by airplane, automobile, boat, snowmobile, and power toboggan.
Applicants to the force must be Canadian citizens of good character. To be officers, they must be at least 19 years of age, graduates of the 12th grade, and in good physical condition. Those who are accepted as officer cadets must enlist for five years. They take a basic six-month training course.” (1)