Waterloo Regional Police Service

Waterloo Regional Police Service

The WPRS logo
Agency overview
Formed 1973
Annual budget $140,000,000 (2014)
Legal personality Governmental: Government agency
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdiction* Police area of Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
Size 1,382 km² or 533.59 sq mi
Population 560,000 (2014)
General nature
Operational structure
Headquarters Cambridge, Ontario
Sworn members 800
Elected officer responsible The Honourable Madeleine Meilleur, Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services
Agency executive Matt Torigian, Chief of Police
Divisions 5
Facilities
Stations Headquarters; 3 Stations; 2 Sub-stations
Website
Waterloo Regional Police Service
Footnotes
* Police area agency: Prescribed geographic area in the country, over which the agency has usual operational jurisdiction.

The Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS) provides policing services for the Regional Municipality of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada which encompasses the cities of Waterloo, Kitchener, and Cambridge, as well as the townships of North Dumfries, Wellesley, Wilmot and Woolwich. WRPS was established in 1973 to replace the individual police departments in the region. The cities of Kitchener, Waterloo and Galt; Towns of Preston, Hespeler, Elmira and New Hamburg; the Village of Bridgeport and Waterloo Township had their own respective police department. The Townships of Woolwich, Wellesley, Wilmot and North Dumfries were under the jurisdiction of the Ontario Provincial Police. In 1991 Waterloo Regional Police Force was renamed with the current name.[1]

Organization

Since December 12, 2007, former Deputy Chief Matt Torigian replaced retiring Chief of Police Larry Gravill. A position which Larry Gravill held since 1992. In 1991, to minimize the negativity associated with the word "force", the department changed its name from Waterloo Regional Police Force to Waterloo Regional Police Service.

Headquarters

Headquarters is located at 200 Maple Grove Road on the border with Cambridge and Kitchener. This site was chosen as it is geographically center to all the urban areas within the region. Waterloo Regional Police headquarters has a museum in the lobby complete with old uniforms, equipment and information on the departments prior to 1973.

Operational Patrol Divisions

NORTH Formerly Division 3- 45 Columbia St. E., Waterloo

CENTRAL Formerly Division 1- 134 Frederick St, Kitchener

SOUTH Formerly Division 2- 176 Hespeler Rd, Cambridge

RURAL NORTH Formerly Division 3A- 13 Industrial Dr, Elmira

RURAL SOUTH Formerly Division 1A- 34 Peel St, New Hamburg

Branches & Divisions

Waterloo Regional Police Service is made up of:

Patrol Divisions

All divisions also each have a Criminal Investigations Branch.

Investigative Services

Strategic & Tactical Services (Division 7)

Support Services

Community & Corporate Services

Policing Standards

Executive Office

Shoulder Flashes

Shoulder Flashes worn on the uniforms of Waterloo Regional Police Officers.

Fleet

Waterloo Regional Police Cruisers

Currently in use:

Marked cruisers are white, with hood, trunk lid, front and rear quarter panels and bumpers painted navy blue. The words Waterloo Regional Police appear in white retroreflective text with a navy blue outline. A distinct solid red line curves from the front, through to the rear of the vehicle, with the motto "People Helping People" and "911" on the rear quarter panel. A series of white horizontal stripes appear above and below the curved red stripe. The crest of the police service appears on the rear pillar as well. A Canadian flag in addition to any special designations for the vehicle, such as "Supervisor", "Traffic", "Duty Officer" are displayed on the front fender. On the rear of the cruiser, the text "Waterloo Regional Police" is displayed on the left side of the trunk lid, and the vehicle number and divisional designation (where applicable) on the right side. On the bumper appears the police service website (wrps.on.ca), along with the Crime Stoppers tip-line number encompassed by retroreflective chevrons. Affixed to the roof is a red and blue LED light bar, as well as several antennas for communication and GPS.

The WRPS Traffic Branch also employs marked "stealth" cars, which features the same markings, except in a retroreflective black-on-black design.

Previously:

New Fleet Cars

Officer Ranks

The rank structure used by the WRPS is defined by regulations of Ontario's Police Services Act.

The Waterloo Regional Police Service does not use the ranks of Staff Superintendent or Staff Inspector.

Auxiliary Unit

The Waterloo Regional Police Service also has an auxiliary unit, composed of approximately 75 unpaid civilian volunteers.[2] Auxiliary Officers assist with special events, parades, as well as community programs.

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://wrps.theorchardstudios.com/history
  2. ↑ "http://wrps.on.ca/volunteers/auxiliary". External link in |title= (help)
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