VIDEO: Special unit a great opportunity for future cops, volunteers

If you have a desire to eventually be a police officer with the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service, OPP or RCMP, or if you prefer to keep your current job while getting to wear a uniform, work with police and serve the public, the recently-revived Sault Police Auxiliary Unit is a great option to go for in order to gain experience before pursuing a career in law enforcement, or a way to enrich your life as a community volunteer.

The volunteer unit petered out about a decade ago, partly because some of its members went on to become regular police officers, but recruitment of new Auxiliary Unit members by Sault Police began last year.

Their training began in January, and the revived unit officially unveiled its presence at the Walk a Mile In Her Shoes fundraiser in support of Women In Crisis held on the Sault Ste. Marie waterfront May 26.

The unit is trained in the evenings to accommodate the schedules of its members, and currently includes four males and three females.

One familiar member is Ryan Harnden, who told SooToday the team spirit involved in the Auxiliary Unit is a natural fit for him, already being a member of the Sault's own Olympic men's curling gold medal-winning Team Jacobs.

Currently, Harnden said he is committed to Team Jacobs as they continue to compete, but has joined the Auxiliary with a view to eventually become a police officer at the city, provincial or federal level.  

The unit’s Kaija Kokkinen told SooToday she has always wanted to be a police officer, and enjoys her experience with the Auxiliary Unit as valuable training.

"It feels awesome (to wear the uniform)," smiled Kokkinen, who works as a security guard for KC Security Services, and who has already completed Sault College's Police Foundations program, planning to return to the college in the fall for its Protection, Security and Investigation program.

Recently, SooToday was granted an opportunity to observe an Auxiliary Unit training session.

After some classroom training at the Sault Police Service building, Auxiliary Unit members took part in a simulated traffic stop (Auxiliary Unit members keeping an eye on the passenger side of a vehicle while an officer checked the driver’s side), and were also taught, in a simulated exercise organized by Sault Police officers Sgt. Ben Bolduc and Cst. Darren Sirie, how to carefully search a building for intruders.

Auxiliary Unit members give extra police visibility at events such as parades and fairs, assist with crowd management at large community events, perform traffic safety initiatives, help out at police information booths at public events, provide a police presence in parks, cycling paths, walkways and other public spaces and take part in ride-alongs with Sault Police officers.

Auxiliary Unit members do not carry firearms or tasers, but do wear complete, police-style uniforms with vests, carry batons, handcuffs, flashlights and radios.

It is the Sault Police Service's goal to increase the Auxiliary Unit's number of members from the current seven to 10 to 12 members later this year and into 2019.

Auxiliary members must be a minimum of 18 years of age, possess a post-secondary education, have no criminal record and be able to meet physical requirements.

An online link to a full list of requirements may be found on the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service website.