Career Opportunities
Policing can be one of the most rewarding and challenging career choices. The Thunder Bay Police Service offers a number of ways you can serve your community and have one of the most unique employment experiences. We offer both civilian and sworn positions. Police officers are sworn to enforce the law and to protect our citizens. Civilians fulfill many of the support functions that keep the service running.
Examples of Civilian Employment Opportunities - Thunder Bay Police Service
Adobe PDF, 1 page, 36 KB
An emergency communications operator is a fast paced position within the Thunder Bay Police Service for civilians. If you are considering applying for an Emergency Communications Operator position, take the time to review the following PDF documents to see if this job is right for you! Click on:
Comm Centre Self Test
Hiring Process for Comm Operator
Training to be a Comm Centre Operator
You've Joined the Comm Centre Team!
Police Officer - More than a job - More than a career!
To be considered for a career in policing, you must meet certain minimum requirements as outlined in the Police Services Act. Specifically, you must:
- be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of
- be a least 18 years of age;
- be physically and mentally able to perform the duties of the position, having regard to your own safety and the safety of members of the public;
- have successfully completed at least 4 years of secondary school education or its equivalent. (Note: official transcripts and diplomas will be required). Where education has been completed outside
- be of good moral character and habits, meaning that you are an individual other people would look upon as being trustworthy and having integrity.
Further requirements for police applicants are:
Vision & Hearing Standards
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Please consult the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services website: www.mcscs.jus.gov.on.ca
Other requirements include:
- Possess a valid Ontario Driver’s License, "Class G" with no more than 6 demerit points.
No criminal conviction(s) for which a pardon has not been granted. Pardons may be requested from:
Clemency Division
National Parole Board
340 Laurier Avenue West
K1A 0R1
(613) 995-1308 (ext.156)
- Possess a valid Standard First Aid Certificate and a valid C.P.R. Certificate (Basic Rescuer Level) at the time of hire.
If you meet all the above requirements, then you are eligible to apply to be assessed under the OACP Constable Selection System. This system involves 3 distinct stages of assessment. A candidate must successfully complete all three stages to be eligible for final consideration.
Assessment Stage 1: Pre-Interview Assessment
The first stage of assessment is conducted by a private agency. Currently, that agency is Applicant Testing Services Inc. or ATS. This company conducts testing throughout the province . ATS charges a fee to register to take the tests. In order to register for these tests, or to find out more information, please contact ATS by telephoning: 1-800-429-7728.
Visit the Applicant Testing Services Website for more information. Tests may also be taken through the Ontario Provincial Police.
Stage 1 consists of the following 4 tests:
Police Analytical Thinking Inventory (PATI)
This test is a timed, pencil and paper test designed to measure aptitudes which are necessary for a career in policing. The PATI tests three key areas required of police constables when performing their job:
- Deductive Reasoning - the ability to draw appropriate conclusions from information provided.
- Inductive Reasoning – the ability to identify trends or common characteristics in a series of objects or information presented
- Quantitative Reasoning- the ability to apply basic arthrimetic operations like addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and fractions to solve problems.
A successful result in this test remains valid for a period of 3 years.
Written Communication Test (WCT)
This test is a pencil and paper test which must be completed within 1 hour. It evaluates the candidate’s ability to organize information in a clear, coherent and comprehensive manner and to make conclusions from the given facts. The candidate is presented with a scenario in which factual details are jumbled or represented in a non-chronological manner. A successful result remains valid for 3 years.
Physical Readiness Evaluation for Police (PREP)
The PREP Test is essential to show that police constable recruits possess the physical capabilities to meet the rigorous demands encountered in today’s policing. It is comprised of three separate components: a screening component to ensure your physical readiness and well-being, and two performance components to assess to the candidates physical capability. (The Pursuit and Restraint Circuit, and the Aerobic Shuttle Run).
Applicants are required to complete the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q) prior to taking the PREP Test. Applicants over 40 years of age must complete the PARmed-X form with their family physician prior to the test date. Participants must complete and sign a PREP Participant Consent Form. Also, applicants’ pre-exercise blood pressure and heart rate is measured.
The Aerobic Shuttle Run involves running back and forth over a 20 meter course in time with tape recorded signals. The time to cover the 20 meter course is shortened progressively until the participant is unable to maintain the pace.
Pursuit/Restraint Circuit - The participant is required to complete a 25 meter circuit four times, as quickly as possible. The participant wears a 4-kilogram soft weight belt to simulate wearing a police equipment belt. During each of the four rotations the participant is required to climb a set of stairs. On the second and fourth rotation the participant must scale a 4 foot fence. Following the circuit, the participant completes pushing and pulling on the “body control” simulator plus 2 “arm restraint” simulations, followed by dragging a 150 pound rescue dummy a distance of 15 meters.
The PREP takes about 20 minutes to complete. A successful result in this assessment procedure remains valid for a period of 6 months.
Those candidates who have successfully completed all three tests will proceed to the final test in Stage 1:
- Behavioural Personnel Assessment Device for Police (B-Pad)
Candidates view on a TV monitor scenarios representing what police constables experience on the job. These scenarios are filmed as if the candidate was part of the scene. The candidate is required to respond as if he/she were speaking to the people in the scene. Knowledge of police procedures is not required.
The B-Pad takes approximately 20 minutes to complete. A successful assessment remains valid for 3 years.
Candidates who successfully complete all 4 tests will be issued a Certificate of Results from the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police (OACP).
Assessment Stage 2: Interviews
The Thunder Bay Police conducts interviews on an on-going basis. We accept resumes at any time.
In order to apply to the Thunder Bay Police for the position of Police Constable, you must have a Certificate of Results from the OACP. Possession of a Certificate from the OACP however does not guarantee the candidate an interview. Depending on the number of applicants, Thunder Bay Police will screen applicants down to a manageable number of people to interview.
Competency Interview
The competency interview is behavioural. That is, it is designed to explore the actual behaviours demonstrated by the candidate in various situations.
Candidates are asked to describe specific situations and their thoughts, feelings and actions in those situations. Candidates choose the situations or experiences which best respond to the questions. These situations must be relevant - work related, school related or community related - so as not to bring up personal information which may lead to bias under the Ontario Human Rights Code (for example, issues related to prohibited grounds for discrimination such as marital status, sexual orientation, citizenry, etc., must be avoided).
A job analysis of the position of Police Constable has revealed the following competencies are considered essential for effective job performance:
- Self Control
- Physical Skills/Abilities
- Communication Skills
- Self Confidence
- Flexibility/Dealing with Diversity
- Analytical Thinking
- Achievement Oriented
Additional questions related to Developmental Competencies and Organizational Needs for the Thunder Bay Police Service may also be included. Each question has a target or pass score. For example, a question may be have a maximum score of 6 and a target score of 2. In order to be successful, a candidate must pass each question. In our example then, the candidate would have to score 2 or higher in order to pass that question.
Candidates will be interviewed by a panel of 2 or 3 persons. The interview usually takes from2 to 2 1/ 2 hours to complete.
Candidates are also required to complete a questionnaire related primarily to character and habits in areas such as work and school experiences, alcohol and drug consumption, criminal activity, credit record, etc. These questions should be answered as truthfully and accurately as possible since deliberate misinformation could lead to the candidate being disqualified from the selection process. Candidates complete the questionnaire prior to the interview. After the interview is complete, the interviewers review the questionnaire and may then discuss the information with the candidate. The questionnaire is completed immediately before the interview and takes about 15 to 25 minutes to complete. The review of the information takes from
Assessment Stage 3: Post Interview Assessment
If successful in Stage 2 of the selection process, the candidate may be subject to several post-interview procedures. These are the Background Check, Credit Check, Driving Test, Psychological Assessment, and a Medical Examination.
Background Check
The Thunder Bay Police conduct a detailed examination of the candidate’s past and present behaviours and various records. Every candidate is screened by our Central Records and our Intelligence Units to search for any criminal records and driving infractions. Documents are checked in
Any candidate who successfully completes Stage 2 and the Background Checks will be considered part of the Pool of Recruits. As recruits are needed, candidates will be drawn from the Pool. Those chosen will have to be successful in the following:
- Credit Check
Prior to being hired, all candidates must undergo a credit check. - Driving Test
All candidates must pass a City of - Psychological Assessment
The candidate will be required to complete a questionnaire which inquires into how the candidates thinks, feels and acts. The subject focuses on many personal issues. After completing the questionnaire the candidate will attend a personal interview with a psychologist.
Candidates who are successful at this point will be given a Conditional Offer of Employment. That is, they will be given an offer of employment conditional on passing a medical examination to determine the candidate’s medical suitability to perform the duties of a police constable will then be required.
If a job offer is confirmed, the selected candidate will complete a brief orientation with the Thunder Bay Police (usually 2 to 3 weeks). Following this orientation, the recruit will attend the Ontario Police College (OPC) for approximately 3 months. OPC is located in
Note: Candidates are responsible for their own travel and accommodation expenses for any testing, interviews, or assessments prior to being hired.
Download the Constable Application Form Adobe PDF, 4 pages, 104 KB and submit along with your letter to:
Thunder Bay Police Service
Human Resources
1200 Balmoral Street
Thunder Bay ON P7B 5Z5
