Aboriginal Community Constable

Plans for 2nd Pilot Troop of ACC Cadets Underway

An ACC is an armed, uniformed peace officer at the rank of Special Constable. Their primary focus is engaging their communities in active crime prevention/reduction activities, and building positive relationships between their communities and the RCMP.  ACCs enhance, not replace, the work of general duty RCMP constables; they have the capacity to provide tactical, enforcement and investigational support to other RCMP officers if required.

On April 12, 2011, the first troop of cadets from the RCMP’s Aboriginal Community Constable (ACC) pilot program graduated from RCMP Academy, “Depot” Division in Regina, Saskatchewan.

ACCs are currently working in Aboriginal communities in the Northwest Territories, Manitoba, Alberta, and Nunavut.

Following strong support and continued interest from communities currently participating in the ACC pilot program, the RCMP is currently recruiting a second pilot troop of ACCs. It is anticipated they will start their 21-week training program in early 2013.

The ACC pilot demonstrates the RCMP’s continued commitment to the Aboriginal Strategic Priority. The program allows the RCMP to attract, develop and retain persons with specific linguistic, cultural and community skills that go beyond those taught at Depot, and enable the RCMP to tailor its policing services to specific, community-identified needs.

Pending the results of a thorough formal evaluation of this pilot, the Aboriginal Community Constable option may be available to additional communities across Canada. If the ACC pilot is not found to be sustainable, the pilot provinces and territories have agreed to continue to employee the current ACCs.