Supplied by the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service…

The Sault Ste. Marie Police Service is currently looking to add volunteers to our Auxiliary Constable Unit. We are interested in professional individuals who are eager to learn more about policing and helping members of our community.

Sergeant Darren Sirie leads our Training Services Unit and he says, “The Auxiliary program is a great jumping off point if you’re interested in becoming a Special Constable or a Police Constable.” Sgt. Sirie adds “members of our Auxiliary are afforded an opportunity to develop an understanding of Police functions within the community.”

Along with spending time on the road with Service members, Auxiliary volunteers are asked to attend three events each month. These events may include many things such as community festivals, parades, street parties and sporting events.

Many of our officers and Special Constables began their policing careers in the Auxiliary Program. Constable Kyle Leonard is the latest Auxiliary member to join us as a sworn officer. Constable Leonard was officially sworn in as a police officer in April of this year. Kaija Kokkinen and Nick Berlingeri are the most recent hires from the Auxiliary program. Both of them are now part-time Special Constables.

Kaija says, “My goal is to become a police officer and my time as an Auxiliary provided me the opportunity to gain firsthand knowledge of policing and cemented in my mind that I do want to have a career in this field.”

Nick says, “The value of my time as an Auxiliary is hard to measure. I am passionate about having a career as an officer, and my volunteer work with the Service made that more evident. It is such a great experience spending time with community members.”

With the promotion of Kaija and Nick to Special Constables, the Service needs more people to fill our Auxiliary program. Currently we have six members actively involved in the program. Our goal is to have as many as 10 Auxiliary members to utilize for community events. This will allow us to have greater visibility at community functions, while also providing Auxiliary members greater experience in policing should they consider pursuing a career in that field.

The current opening for Auxiliary personnel will close on October 31, 2019. If interested in applying to become an Auxiliary member please visit our website www.ssmps.ca/index.php/careers/auxiliary-constables