Royal Canadian Mounted Police
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), (French: Gendarmerie royale du Canada (GRC)), is the national police force of Canada. The force is also called the Mounties.
![](http://up.wiki.x.io/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/eb/Mountie_at_the_state_funeral_for_Lincoln_Alexander.jpg/220px-Mountie_at_the_state_funeral_for_Lincoln_Alexander.jpg)
Unique organization
changeRCMP is unique in the world because it is a national, federal, provincial and municipal policing organization:[1]
- RCMP is the federal police for all of Canada Greater Area.
- RCMP serves as the police for the three Canadian territories
- RCMP serves in all ten Canadian provinces, although its role is limited in Ontario and Quebec as both provinces have their own provincial police services.
- RCMP provides police services for more than 190 municipalities
- RCMP is the police for 184 native communities -- the First Nations,[2] Inuit[3] and Métis.[4]
- RCMP ensures security at three international airports.
The RCMP/GRC wording is protected under the Canadian Trade-marks Act.[5]
History
changeThe Northwest Mounted Police (NWMP), was founded 1873. The Mounties were created to establish authority and to dominate the native population in the west before settlers began to arrive.[6] The smaller Dominion Police was founded in 1868 to protect federal government buildings.
The Mounties were given the right to use the term Royal by King Edward VII in 1904. Their name was changed to the Royal Northwest Mounted Police (RNWMP).
The modern RCMP was created when the RNWMP merged with the smaller Dominion Police in 1920.
The word mounted suggests that the police ride horses. Before 1920, horses were their main method of travel. However, today the RCMP do not ride horses except at special events.
Uniform
changeThe RCMP are famous for their uniform. The "Review Order" (also "Red Serge") uniform is worn mostly at special events, such as parades. The uniform consists of a red tunic with a large brown belt,(formally known as a “Sam Browne”), a light brown hat, dark blue breeches (trousers) with a yellow stripe and riding boots.
On an ordinary day at work, RCMP officers instead wear a grey shirt, dark blue trousers, ankle boots and a peaked cap (the type worn by most police officers elsewhere). In the winter they may wear a thicker coat, heavier boots and a fur cap.
Ranks
changeThe ranks of the RCMP are, from highest to lowest:
- Commissioner
- Deputy Commissioner
- Assistant Commissioner
- Chief Superintendent
- Superintendent
- Inspector
- Corps Sergeant Major*
- Sergeant Major
- Staff Sergeant Major
- Staff Sergeant
- Sergeant
- Corporal
- Constable
- Cadet
Ranks marked with an asterisk (*) are only found in a few parts of the RCMP and are usually not part of the chain of command. For most staff sergeants, their superior is an inspector and not a staff sergeant major. While "Cadet" is a term used for RCMP trainees at depot it is not an official rank.
References
change- ↑ "RCMP". Archived from the original on 2017-07-27. Retrieved 2010-03-25.
- ↑ First Nations
- ↑ Inuit
- ↑ "Métis" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-03-26. Retrieved 2010-03-25.
- ↑ "Canada Trade-marks Act". Archived from the original on 2011-06-05. Retrieved 2010-03-25.
- ↑ Wolkomir, Richard. "Mounties forever, but these days rarely on horseback," Smithsonian. February 1989, pp. 81-82.
Sources
change- Wolkomir, Richard. "Mounties forever, but these days rarely on horseback," Smithsonian. February 1989, pp. 78-89.
Other websites
change- List of Civilian organizations with prefix "Royal" – Heritage Canada. Archived 2014-12-07 at the Wayback Machine
- History and Uniform of the North-West Mounted Police, 1873 to 1904
- The official website of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
- Royal Canadian Mounted Police Gazette Archived 2006-12-07 at the Wayback Machine
- The Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP
- RCMP Watch
- RCMP Wanted list Archived 2010-02-17 at the Wayback Machine
- RCMP Heritage Centre
- "Courage in Red". YouTube.
- RCMP North-West Mounted Police in Literature and History Archived 2007-10-22 at the Wayback Machine
- RCMP Honour Roll Archived 2010-08-31 at the Wayback Machine