How do I become a Police Officer in Ontario?

What does it take to become a police officer in Ontario?

• I am 19 years old a male and am 5'8 130 pounds. I am in university for legal studies/criminology and want to know what steps i should take to prepare myself to be accepted as a officer. As well I know legally according to my height i am allowed to be a officer and know that I have a good attitude towards it but will it affect my job overall? I also want to know what i should be doing prior to applying for a officer position?

• Answer:

  If you project to others that your size matters it will affect you. If you project the air of authority needed for a cop, no problem. I have worked with great cops who are a lot smaller than you. BTW did you know that the average infantryman, the kind that fought on the ground, in WWII were about your size? 5'8", 135 lbs, usually with a 34" waist. Lots of departments in Ontario. Toronto, Opp are the biggest but lots more. Do not know what the curriculum is for legal/criminology studies. I normally recommend any future cop for US or Canada to stay away from "police" type majors. Like I said, don't know what the curriculum is with your specific major. If possible take an elective or two in classes that will help you develop your critical thinking skills. Does not look practical but the so called practical stuff, like specific laws or how to process a scene, change drastically. What does not change is you having a great ability to look at things and be able to winnow out what is likely and not likely. That is where critical thinking comes in. The electives I recommend are things like introduction to philosophy and comparative religions. Any hard science that give you lots of practice in the scientific theory is also great, especially if yu wish to become a detective in the future.