CPS big problems

[Concerned Citizen]

Hi all, I just wanted to send a message out to those of you who are CPS hopefuls. I am currently employed in the private sector but I very frequently interact with members of the CPS as a facet of my job. Although many of the members of CPS whom I have met have been professional and what I would consider to be "good cops", I have also met several who leave me thinking how did this person ever become a cop.

I have spoken to several of the members whom I know well and they have expressed the same sentiments, saying that they feel that recruiting is doing an absolutely awful job and that there are huge problems within recruiting which is going to have negative effects in the years to come.

One member remarked to me that the only good recruits being hired were ones that were able to fool recruiting into thinking they fit the unreasonable mold HR has laid out.

CPS cannot attract quality recruits because they expect "boy scouts" and PHD scholars. Well, in my opinion you cannot have lived a totally pristine life and be a good cop...it is impossible. Ask any real cop and they will tell you exactly this. CPS has big time problems and the crime in the city is a prime example of how inept the police service is becoming. Furthermore people with extensive post secondary education are typically not willing to work for $60,000 per year. Or $19.00 per hour to start.

Many CPS members in my encounters appear to be unwilling to perform their tasks completly and are often totally wrong and confused when dealing with a particular incident. Many times I have to correct their mistakes and when pointed out to them I am usually treated with some very unprofessional attitude and sometimes foul language as well.

Recently there was an incident where I required CPS to attend and investigate. The constables who arrived literally laughed in my face about it and told me that they did not have time for this type of thing. I disagreed and contacted the RCMP and informed them of this situation. The RCMP not only thought that it was worthy of their time, but felt that CSIS needed to be informed as well. The constables from CPS were needless to say somewhat embarassed that they had been called on their laziness.

That's probably about enough ranting for now, my advice to CPS hopefuls is to really look closely at this agency before deciding to apply. There are several other agencies who are more professional, better repected and just plain administrated better than CPS. This is of course only my opinion, so take it as you will.

[JACK]

I recently went to a job fair here in halifax where CPS had a display at the Dartmouth sportsplex and I have to say that Iwas not very impressed.In fact the man and women there seemed a little young and frankly I was made to feel as if I was intruding on their time!In fact I did bother going to a follow up infomation session being held later in the evening at Dalhousie university.Oh well ,somebody lost a really great applicant!

[Dan]

You make a good point, but are you telling me that all the people YOU work with are 100% employees. Are you saying that the RCMP are made up of the absolute cream of the crop? I dont think you are. There are always ging to be employees who do not want to or are uncapable of performing to a standard. Recruiting has a tough job in that they have to read a person in about 5 hours time and decide on giving them huge responsibility. They are not going to get it all the time. I was totally honest that I was not a "bou scout". I made it clear that I was a shit rat for much of my youth. They are not looking for perfect people.

Dan.

[Concerned Citizen]

Dan, by no means am I saying that the RCMP or any other agency is made up of "the cream of the crop". It is just that in my personal experience many officers from CPS seem to have this almost disregard for their duties, while the RCMP or other agencies I have worked with generally have a much more professional approach to their jobs. And no the people I work with are not all excellent employees, however the bad ones are the exception and not the rule.

I am being somewhat unfair in that I have most definitely come across some excellent members of CPS, what I am getting at is that the vast majority of those I come across are not so good. The really unfortunate thing here is that these members who are not doing their jobs well, reflect poorly on the members who are doing the utmost in their duties. I imagine it is these small few who are carrying the load for everyone else. I am really writing these messages out of frustration with the CPS. Whenever I have a concern about how something was handled I am basically told to piss off until I get someone I know higher up to take care of things, this of course totally destroys any relationship I may have had with the members before.

Dan, I don't mean to totally cut down CPS, (it sounds like you are member). I'm sure you are proud to be a member of CPS, however I am just trying to figure out why the police service has become the way it is? Things have changed only recently in say the past 5-6years or so. Many of the reg #'s starting with a 39 or a 40 seem to need to head back to training or be removed completely. I apologize but these are my sentiments.

[Guest]

Keep in mind, it's a young service with not a lot of experience on the street. That's not the ideal abut that's just the way it is and seems to be everywhere in this area. There are always going to be those that shouldn't have made it through training but in reality no service has the $$$ to fight all the complaints if they fired everyone they thought might not be stellar first year or two out and then you really wouldn't be happy either because there would be noone to come to your calls unless they were life threatening and immediate.

Obviously by the sounds of your post you deal with CPS and at times RCMP, since they are both in Calgary. I would venture to say that if you dealt with other services you'd find the same thing. Vancouver has a young force and a much, much, worse reputation all round than Calgary. Other services have the same thing, they are starting over with a full rank of guys who need to learn the ropes a bit more. Yeah, a lot of them are cocky sure, and difficult to deal with but really, you'll find that everywhere and the CPS is no different.

[futureconstable]

Hey everyone...the polygraph is now being used for all applicants, I just had mine today, they don't tell you if you pass or fail, I was quite honest about everything, so I think I passed...but does anyone know what the next step is and how long it takes recruiting to contact you, I've already had my selection interview.

[Cpl Mike returns]

You must be talking about policing in the City of Los Angeles !!!! ( or California for that matter)-we've got discrimination,reverse discrimination,gay rights,straight rights-"whose qualified",whose not qualified"-just covered that topic on another board that deals with police employment in CA.It seems that too many people are joining due to the overly competative positions in private industry-Now that civilian mgm't is mucking up things by hiring the "girl next door" and the "boy scouts", people with wimpy bodies,milk toast life styles , and higher degrees are flooding the Depts these days-do we want intelligent people on the force9s)? sure- but having a secondary education doesn't mean you are "smart",and it DOESN'T make you a better police officer! Far too many I've seen with non-law enforcement centered secondary educations really don't want the job,but think they are "smarter" than the avg H.S. educated applicant or former military applicant-Quite a few go thru the process ,taking up space that someone else who really wanted it could have had, then QUIT in the academy,becuase "its not what they thought it should be".I had a previous trainee with an MBA of all things- couldn't write for sh*t,new basic mgm't principles,but took the attitude that he'd rise to the top like in priv. industry! Well after "choking " during a few serious calls-man w/ a gun, officer needs back up @ apt,failed to search a warrant susp coming off a flight- he filed complaints against me and several other FTOs for "abusiveness",then quit when it was learned that several of his complaints had "inaccurate statements"- he's now working for the City as a Mgm't analyst -bottom line- he was a PUNK, a 30 yr old,5'8" ,140 lbs B*tch !!!( my former trainee - a 5'3",120 22 yr old hisp "girl"-she really looks "16"- had more guts and determination than he did.She got up on a 6'4" parolee that sucker punched her partner a few weeks ago,bringing him in for parolee in possession of a firearm!)

In L.A. Chief "NY Bill " Bratton is toying with lowering some standards-which I think is a "no-no", but something has to change-maybe if backgrounds did a check to see if this person is/was athletic,,maybe put them in a pre employment fight with the "red man" to test coping abilities,interviews with employers(face to face to see if this person could handle picking up pissy drunks at 2 am or going to the scene of a fatal accident without crying or puking!),something has to give-and as far as affirmative action? If your a Blk male here,even with a score of 90% or above ,you've got as much chance as a Wht male thats built like superman and has an IQ of 199-bottom of the list too!!! better your chances if you're a 5'1,110 lb gay vietnamese woman who speaks farsi and russian-you wouldn't have to know a damn thing about patrolling the streets-they'd promote you to Sgt or put you in IAD in a yr so you can bully your co-workers in the name of (hypocritcal) righteousness of the Dept! - Still for you hre that really want to be a Cop( God help you!) stay encouraged,maybe the "PC" crowd will throw you a bone when they realize they need people with their "hearts" in it,not the whats in it for me crowd.......

[Boyscout]

Concerned Citizen

Maybe you should walk a mile in a cop's shoes for a bit. It isn't easy or smooth running all the time.
There will always be some bad with the good. Get over it and continue to do what you do to the bext you can. I am sure CPS will be doing the same.

Boyscout

[POP]

I just looked at ther personal disclousure form from cps on their web site and I saw something a little bothersome.The last two questions ask if you have ever been proscribed anti-depressent medication or have ever been treated for depression ect. I assume that since the statement is made that they will verify by poligraph all questions on the form that they will do this in regard to these two questions as well. It is completley aganist the law to polygraph anyone on their medical history in canada,that includes psychological issues as well.I WOULD STRONGLEY ADVISE PEOPLE TO THINK TWICE ABOUT ANSWERING THESE QUESTIONS!IF THEY ARE POLYGRAPHING ON THESE THEY ARE BREAKING THE LAW! CHECK WITH A HUMAN RIGHTS ADVISOR!

[Greg]

Makes sense to me..... or maybe they should just give a badge and a gun to someone with a history of mental illness, no questions asked

[pop]

I guess I DIDN'T MAKE MYSELF CLEAR SO I WILL TRYT AGAIN! You cannot ask under polygraph examination people their medical history.
They can ask in a non polygraph situation,but even then if it was 10,15 years ago they cannot use it. They must determine your state of mind at the time of application only!Don't belive me call your human rights office and see. Even if it doesn"t affect you police forces have certain boundaries they must respect with regard of what they are alloweed to ask and not ask.It's that simple! Just because you are applying for a police constable postion DOES NOT give them the right to violate your charter and human rights!But I SUPPOSE IN A HICK PROVINCE LIKE ALBERTA ANYTHING GOES SINCE YOU PEOPLE LIVE BY YOUR OWN OUTDATED,DISCRIMINATORY RULE!

[RyanSales]

pop,

The Charter states:

15. (1) Every individual is equal before and under the law and has the right to the equal protection and equal benefit of the law without discrimination and, in particular, without discrimination based on race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, age or mental or physical disability.

It does not state that they cannot ask you about your mental history, just that they cannot discriminate against you regarding a mental disability.

I would be more concerned if the police force DIDN'T ask questions regarding such, as your mental stability is something I would hope ALL police agencies examine their candidates on.

I would also watch the advise I give, as if someone does follow your advise and not answer those questons, they could very well find their application is terminated.

RY

[journey2cps-redux]

Could find their application terminated? They WILL find their application terminated...irregardless, those questions are just standard questions that EVERY police force asks. The pre-poly disclosure form has hundreds of questions on it but the actual questions asked while hooked up to the poly will usually only consist of 10-12 questions. If you have a history depression you probalby won't be selected, but you would have to have a LONG history of it not just I was really sad once when my turtle died in grade 7.