For the first time in Elliot Lake’s history, an OPP recruitment officer will make a presentation here on jobs available within the police force.
Seventeen-year veteran OPP officer and local detachment community safety officer, Const. Phil Young, said the presentation is “open to the public… and is a great opportunity for anyone interested in policing to gather the required information.”
“It’s fantastic or else I wouldn’t have stuck with it for 17 years,” Young said of his time with the force.
“It’s not just about being a cop. There are so many more aspects and avenues to policing within the OPP organization,” Young said.
He said those avenues include jobs with the force not related to being a uniformed officer but working in a civilian role.
The OPP is looking for people with specialty trades and job experience as part of its recruitment effort. Those skills range from mechanical experience that can be used in the OPP fleet division, which includes its vehicles such as snowmobiles, boats and ATVs, to people with veterinary skills to work in the canine unit.
Other areas include drug enforcement, anti-rackets and office work, call responders, and officers who deal with outdoor safety on lakes and ATV trails — all part of a wide range of jobs requiring a wide range of skills.
“We hired a lady who was a bank manager and she’s got tons of knowledge and insight into fraud,” Young said of a recent hiring.
“If you have these specialties, we’re actively seeking them,” he said.
The OPP also has specialty units in its tactical and rescue divisions as well as regular policing duties carried out by uniformed officers.
“It’s an information session and we like to say the OPP is always hiring — we’re always looking for the right people,” Young added.
In the past, presentations have been made in larger communities in southern Ontario. Young said bringing the presentation to Elliot Lake is an effort by the OPP to recruit potential employees who live and have experience living in northern communities.
The open information presentation will be held at the Renaissance Active Living Centre (Ren Centre) from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 5.