The POLICEMAN

=" SCHOO,

Every Constable Must Write Examinations at Regular Inter-

vals—Requisites for Officers—Duties Many and Varied—

Tact Defined and Stressed—Study of Evidence Acts Is a Major

One — Lectures Build up “Police Consciousness” — Sharp

Difference Between Rural and Urban Duties—Physical Fit-
ness of First Importance

AS THE one representative of government,
continually before the public, the policeman
fills one of the most important positions in
the machinery of modern civilization.

The above is impressed upon all members
of the British Columbia Provincial Police,
as part of the study routine, which keeps
them constantly improving themselves by a
set of examinations lasting over a period of
24 weeks.

The British Columbia Police Training
School, for members of. the Force has been
carried on successfully the past few years.
A correspondence course, giving this prov-
ince perhaps the only police school of its

kind in Canada.

As part of the training of all constables,
examinations must be written regularly. In
the past, the men were called into Victoria
and given written tests. This proved difh-
cult for officers stationed some 800 miles
north. So the plan of knowledge by corre-
spondence was devised. At first the police
were examined every two months. Today,
twelve sets of papers are despatched to the
various points throughout British Columbia
to the Cariboo, to distant Atlin, and down
again to Vancouver. Each set must be
answered and returned to Headquarters
within two weeks. The total test takes six

months, then the men are subjected to an-
other set of examinations.

Under the capable direction of Sergeant
C. K. MacKenzie, attached to Headquarters
staff at Victoria, this highly efficient and
modernized idea has proven successful far
beyond expectations.

In a small office on the second floor of
“A” Division sits Sergeant MacKenzie. Of
medium build, with keen, steady eye, he is
ever on the alert for information which will
help his organization. His job is preparing
the tests, which range from a comprehensive
knowledge of the Criminal Code to a stiff
Intelligence Quota.

REQUISITES FOR POLICE OFFICER

“The work is most interesting,” he said.
“We have what we consider one of the
finest bodies of men anywhere, and we are
constantly at work, keeping up our high
standard.

“To the average citizen, a police officer
only means protection. He doesn’t under-
stand the training a young man must go
through to become an efficient upholder of
law and order.”

“What are some of the requisites?”

“Training,” said Sergeant MacKenzie.

“Control, obedience, discipline, ever so
many things.
“A disciplined police officer is a trained,

controlled man, and not only must he be
willing to place himself under the control
of his superiors, but he must have himself
under control, otherwise he is not
plined.

“The police are greatly helped in doing
their work by the esteem and respect with
which the Force as a whole is deservedly
regarded by the public.

“By his conduct and dress the constable
should be an example to all, and give the
ordinary citizen that sense of security he
should have in the police.”

“You stress intelligence?”

“We certainly do,” emphasized Sergeant
MacKenzie, “it is the brain, and not the
baton which is the constable’s best weapon.”

The duties of a constable on the British
Columbia Police are varied; some interest-
ing, some onerous. They might be briefly
summed up in what are known as the four
“P’s” of his catechism: Protection of life
and property; Preservation of peace; Pre-
vention of crime; and Pursuit and prosecu-
tion of criminals.

“One of the most interesting, as well as
instructive books for the B. C. policeman is
A Catechism on the Criminal and Penal
Law of Canada, by Assistant Commiss‘oner
T. W. S. Parsons.

All through lesson number one for the
Provincial Police officer, tact is stressed.

“We try to define tact,” said Sergeant
MacKenzie, “as a nice discernment of the
best course of action under given conditions;
ability to deal with others without giving
offence; and sensitive moral perception.”

A famous English journal, dealing with
crime detection used the following para-
graph: “Judgment, skill, foresight, and even
experience, are beads unstrung without in-
finite tact.”

disci

CORRESPONDENCE CourRSsES USEFUL

In the correspondence courses sent out by
Sergeant MacKenzie at Headquarters, the
constable is always urged to keep full notes
from previous lessons for possible future
reference.

Examples of questions sent fortnightly
are: “What is meant by the “Evidence
Act’? State at least five rules of evidence.”
“What right have you to arrest a loiterer at
night?” “How is a summons served?” “What
is an Information and Complaint?” All
these question had to do with the lesson in-
volving crime.

On an intelligence test, advanced arith-
metical and algebraic problems are used, as

A typical photograph of British Columbia Provincial Police Officers attending the Police Training School in Vic-
toria before the innovation of the present day modern correspondence course.

OCTOBER, 1938

Page Fifty-Three