Court

About Special Constables

Special Constables are civilian members who play an essential role within the Ottawa Police Service.

Special Constable is a designation issued by the province of Ontario, providing members with a limited Law Enforcement role in the City of Ottawa. Once hired, the Chief of Police swears in members as Peace Officers.

Special Constables work in various sections within the Ottawa Police, including Court Security and Temporary Custody, as well as in the Court Liaison Section.

Court Security Special Constables can work within three different environments of the Ottawa Police:

• Ottawa Court House detention cellblock,
• Ottawa Police Central Division cellblock facility; and
• Provincial Offences Court.

Special Constables in Court Liaison serve subpoenas, summons and other court-related documents to witnesses and charged persons.

Special Constables in this section also liaise with investigators and front-line officers to exchange information relating to witnesses. Their duties also include testifying in court.

Special Constables have their own uniforms, differentiating them from sworn members. Special Constable uniforms feature royal blue detailing, shoulder flashes and ‘Special Constable’ markings on their vests. 

District Special Constable Pilot Project 

In March 2024, the Ottawa Police Service launched the District Special Constable Pilot Project.  

The Ottawa Police Service District Special Constable (DSC) pilot program deploys Special Constables to assist frontline patrol operations. The Pilot Project is intended to support and supplement frontline police officers, by sending Special Constables to various non-emergency call types. 

Under the Pilot Project, the DSCs will have two new roles. The first role is to assist with custody of persons apprehended under the Mental Health Act. This area drains frontline resources while police officers maintain custody of detainees at hospitals. Currently, two police officers are required to maintain custody of a detainee at hospital. A Special Constable will relieve the secondary police officer so they can return to patrol duties and respond to other emergencies. 

The second role for DSCs is traffic control duties. They will assist police officers with traffic direction and road closures to alleviate frontline resources. This includes road closures at collision scenes, crime scenes, events, demonstrations, and any other incident that may require traffic control. DSCs will also support frontline officers with towing or removing vehicles from roadways. The use of Special Constables for these duties frees up police officers to respond to emergency calls. 

The DSCs will be visible in the community with designated OPS Special Constable cruisers.