The Sarnia Police Service is planning to roll out its new auxiliary unit this October.
Training for the volunteer team begins this month after police held an initial recruiting drive earlier this year.
Deputy Chief Julie Craddock said a volunteer position as an auxiliary officer is demanding but rewarding.
"Your role will be making a significant contribution to the safety and wellbeing of the community at large and supporting the Sarnia Police Service (SPS) in police operations across the city," said Craddock in an email to Sarnia News Today. "Auxiliary officers represent our police service and while they're not paid for their time, this volunteer opportunity pays dividends in the form of personal and professional development."
Craddock said police received 22 applications for the team and that they're currently completing background investigations. The number of members on the unit will be unveiled when the process is complete.
"SPS hosted two information sessions and shared the Auxiliary Policing Unit (program) on our social media feeds," said Craddock. "The process is closed (for now), and we will likely do another recruiting drive in early 2024."
Craddock said they've been authorized to have up to 20 members on the unit and that they'll likely expand from there in 2024, or 2025.
Craddock said police have very high standards for the unit, which include behavioral interviews, a full background investigation, mandatory training, and a swearing-in ceremony. She also said potential selected members are sent for physical testing and psychological testing.
As part of the training, Craddock said officers will learn an introduction to the SPS units and functions, policies and procedures, ethics, communications, provincial and federal laws, and traffic direction. She said officers will be trained on defensive tactics, citizen powers of arrest, search and hand cuffing, and firearms familiarization.
"The role of an auxiliary officer is to support the police service and its members, by volunteering their time participating in community events, general patrol duties and during emergencies."