ASK A SPECIAL CONSTABLE

[RemingtonSteel]

Hey there guys, this is kind of a random question but do you know where i might be able to locate a provincial salary comparison for special constables in ontario? or is that knowledge not availible to the public

[48highlander]

Hey there guys, this is kind of a random question but do you know where i might be able to locate a provincial salary comparison for special constables in ontario? or is that knowledge not availible to the public

You would probably have to look at each individual agency, as there is no online/published, salary comparsion. But off the top of my head Universities tend to be at lower end of the scale, starting in the 40k and progress into the mid/high 50s. Police Employed specials (including the legislature) vary from 40k-60k (but keep in mind alot start as part-timers). Housing, right now its only Toronto Housing and they start around 50k. Transit is one of the highest paid right now right off the bat, TTC is just under 60k while in training, and goes up to 70k, GO Transit/YRT, start in the 50k area and go into the 60k range. OC Transpo is the only one I am not sure of.

[Dave Jenkins]

Hey there guys, this is kind of a random question but do you know where i might be able to locate a provincial salary comparison for special constables in ontario? or is that knowledge not availible to the public

Some police sites, like HPS, will have something relating to their special constables.

Hamilton Police Service
Part time Special Constable - Court Security*

Hours of work and hourly rate:
Variable hours between 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Entry $ 21.178 + 14% + 4% = $ 25.107 / hr.

http://www.hamiltonpolice.on.ca/HPS/Home.htm
click on “join the service” and choose civilian employee

Most universities have the collective agreements in electronic form. Presently McMasters special constables contract is missing (HR moves in slow and mysterious ways). These sites should lead you to what you are looking for (universities any way).

Carleton
http://www2.carleton.ca/hr

Guelph
http://www.uoguelph.ca/hr/ee_agreements/

McMaster
http://www.workingatmcmaster.ca
http://www.workingatmcmaster.ca/med/doc ... 7-1-42.pdf

Western
http://www.uwo.ca/humanresources
http://www.uwo.ca/humanresources/docand ... /uwopa.pdf

Waterloo
Waterloo in non union. Information is very sketchy as to wages.

Toronto
http://www.hrandequity.utoronto.ca
http://www.hrandequity.utoronto.ca/Asse ... 7-2010.pdf

Windsor
http://www.uwindsor.ca/hr
http://www.uwindsor.ca/units/AEC/hr/CAW ... ntract.pdf

Here is a quick glance at university wages:
For 2008

McMaster:
Sr Cst (4+ years) $26.82
Sr Cst – $25.75
1st Class Cst - $24.67
2nd Class Cst - $23.60
3rd Class Cst - $22.53

CRO premium - Community Resource officer will get an additional 4% of their rate for hours worked as CRO

Investigator premium – officer will get an additional 5% of their rate while acting as the Investigator

Shift premium 19:00 to 07:00 hrs = $1.20 per hour

Weekend premium = $0.60 per hour

I/C (Acting Sgt) premium 2008 - $2.20 July 2009 $2.25 / hour


Toronto:
Corporal – $28.72
1st Class Cst - $27.12
2nd Class Cst - $25.76
3rd Class Cst - $22.85
4th Class Cst - $20.06

Guelph:
(after 60 months) $29.26
(after 48 months )$28.28
(after 30 months) $26.37
(after 12 months) $23.88
Start- $19.98

Waterloo:
N/A

Western (2007…nothing found for 2008):
1st Class Cst - $23.59
2nd Class Cst - $22.13
3rd Class Cst - $20.65
4th Class Cst - $17.10

Windsor:
Sergeant - $32.94
1st Class Cst - $27.66
2nd Class Cst - $26.28
3rd Class Cst - $24.90
4th Class Cst - $22.83

*updated McMaster Collective Agreement link*

[Tank]

Do you want it for Police services or universities?

1) Toronto Police Service - Top $63,139.26 (2009) 2010- $66,207
>
> 2) OPP - Start $59,987.20 - Top $63,731.20 (2008 Contract)
>
> 3 Peel Regional Police Service - S/Cst 2009 $72,223 -
>
> 4) Ottawa Police Service - S/Cst $62,316 (2009 rates)
>
> 5) York Regional Police Service - Start $64,407 - Top $68,111 (2008 rates - contract expires Dec 31,2008)
>
> 6) Durham Regional Police Service - Start $55,818 - Top $63,430 (2007 rates
>
> 7) Waterloo Regional Police Service - Jan 1,2009 Top $61,078.35
>
> 8 ) London Police Service - $64,466.84 (Jan 1 2009) $65,187.58 (July 1 2009) $66,491.33 (Jan 1 2010) $67,156.25 (July 1 2010)
>
> 9) Hamilton Police Service - Top $57,133 (Contract expires Dec 31 2008)
>
> 10) Niagara Regional Police Service - Start $54,219.92 - Top $58,465 (2008 rates - expire Dec 2008)
>
> 11) Windsor Police Service - Start $55,383.48 - Top $57,115.83 (2008 rates )
>
> 12) Halton Regional Police Service - Top $58,937 (2008)

Hey there guys, this is kind of a random question but do you know where i might be able to locate a provincial salary comparison for special constables in ontario? or is that knowledge not availible to the public

[Dave Jenkins]

As 48 mentioned there are a good many police specials that are part time so keep that in mind. Also, keep in mind that many of these higher paying part time positions have no vacation or benefit packages. Might not seem like much but if you are looking at it as a longer term prospect (even while attempting to get into regular policing) it may end up being an issue.

Hamilton-
Hours of work and hourly rate:
Variable hours between 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Entry $ 21.178 + 14% + 4% = $ 25.107 / hr.

$21.17 Wage + 14% in lieu of benefits + 4% in lieu of vacation.

If you are getting good hours then you can get your own coverage plan privately but if you are not getting the hours then either you do without the benefits or take a kick in the wallet.

I also found Niagara Regional Police's special constable wording interesting:
# Must be available to work all shifts, supporting a 24/7 operation
# Flexibility to work in a variety of locations and different Units
# Opportunity to apply to permanent job postings within our Service
# Opportunity to participate in our comprehensive benefits program, once you have completed 480 hours of work
# Opportunity to participate in our OMERS pension plan, once you have completed two consecutive years of 700 hours of work

A working year is 2080 hours. They say you can participate in the OMERS pension plan after completing 2 consecutive years of 700 hours each and the benefit program after 480 hours. So it would be interesting to see how many hours part timers get per week/per month.

[Tank]

That is strange how Niagra does it. With TPS you get full benefits after 1044 hours, and you pay into the pension from day one. It rakes about 2 years to get full time and the hours are usually about 6-8 a day, about 35 a week or so.

[Dave Jenkins]

That is strange how Niagra does it. With TPS you get full benefits after 1044 hours, and you pay into the pension from day one. It rakes about 2 years to get full time and the hours are usually about 6-8 a day, about 35 a week or so.

30-35 hours a week would be OK but if you only got 20-25 hours a week that could make things pretty tight.

People must also keep in mind that once you are a special constable there are some other jobs you will not be able to hold due to "conflict of interest" with security guard and or private investigator being at the top of the list. So if you were thinking that you could work two jobs it may not be quite that simple. This has become much more prevalent with the new security act in Ontario requiring in-house security to be licensed. There used to be a little room to maneuver before.

Special constables in Ontario fall under a group of persons that as seen as part of the "administration of justice" regardless of their employer (university, transit police....)and are seen as the same as police constables for this purpose.

[SHAMROCK]

MikeR,

You also have to remember things like shift premiums, acting sgt time, stat day pay and any other perks will add up.

For example I make $25.75 per hour. This works out to $53, 560 per year.

Now you add on night shift and weekend premiums and I average about $26.47 to $26.53 per hour this works out to between $55,057.60 and $55,182.40 per year.

Now add in some o/t and stats worked and its very easy for a Senior Constable at Mac to top $60k.

[Dave Jenkins]

MikeR,

You also have to remember things like shift premiums, acting sgt time, stat day pay and any other perks will add up.

For example I make $25.75 per hour. This works out to $53, 560 per year.

Now you add on night shift and weekend premiums and I average about $26.47 to $26.53 per hour this works out to between $55,057.60 and $55,182.40 per year.

Now add in some o/t and stats worked and its very easy for a Senior Constable at Mac to top $60k.

July 2009 top end constables at Mac will be at the $28.64 rate + premiums

Keeping in mind that our Sergeants get stat holidays off (6-7 at Christmas alone depending on year), 4 plus weeks vacation (in my case 5 soon to be 6), accrued time, sick time, absent due to training or management obligations…….it adds up for our officers who qualify as I/C so it can be considerable over the course of a year. That additional $2.25 does not hurt for the I/C premium.

[Tank]

Yeah, its easy to get an extra 10k in ot. TPS pays an extra .65 cents an hour for working afternoons.

MikeR,

You also have to remember things like shift premiums, acting sgt time, stat day pay and any other perks will add up.

For example I make $25.75 per hour. This works out to $53, 560 per year.

Now you add on night shift and weekend premiums and I average about $26.47 to $26.53 per hour this works out to between $55,057.60 and $55,182.40 per year.

Now add in some o/t and stats worked and its very easy for a Senior Constable at Mac to top $60k.

[Dave Jenkins]

Yeah, its easy to get an extra 10k in ot. TPS pays an extra .65 cents an hour for working afternoons.

In Mac’s case $1.20 / hr for shift premiums (16:00 hrs – 08:00 hrs) and $0.60 for any hours worked on Saturday of Sunday. So the last 1/3 of a day shift is premium time and all of your night shift is premium time. So that is an extra $1.80/hr for nights on weekends.

[Bald Man]

That is strange how Niagra does it. With TPS you get full benefits after 1044 hours, and you pay into the pension from day one. It rakes about 2 years to get full time and the hours are usually about 6-8 a day, about 35 a week or so.

Both Toronto and Niagara are messed up they way they employ thgeir specials. At least Ottawa has it some what right. Part-time positions do not exist within the Ottawa police. If we had paid lunches then we would be a top contender in Ontario. But we are civilian members and therefore only get paid 35hr per week. Everyone works full-time which is a 35hr work week for us. We do how ever have about 4 full-time contract positions in our section. These positions don't qualify for OMERS,benefits, holidays, sick time etc..after 6 months on, a term contract member will get 10% in lieu of holidays and benefits. I started out on contract for my first year, then had to apply for a perminant position when they became available. I never did by back my OMERS time for that year but I can at anytime.

The salaries Tank posted are correct. We just got a little bump in salary on Jan 1st. We now make $33.91 per hour based on 35hrs per week which brings us into the $61K range which is top wage after 4 years. We get another increment in July of about 2% which will bring us in the $62K range.

If we were lucky to get paid lunches like most services, we would be making $70,532.80 right now.

[CourtOfficer]

Baldman - I hope everyone makes a point of leaving or otherwise becoming inaccesible during their one hour UNPAID lunch!

CO

[Tank]

Like Peel..

That is strange how Niagra does it. With TPS you get full benefits after 1044 hours, and you pay into the pension from day one. It rakes about 2 years to get full time and the hours are usually about 6-8 a day, about 35 a week or so.

Both Toronto and Niagara are messed up they way they employ thgeir specials. At least Ottawa has it some what right. Part-time positions do not exist within the Ottawa police. If we had paid lunches then we would be a top contender in Ontario. But we are civilian members and therefore only get paid 35hr per week. Everyone works full-time which is a 35hr work week for us. We do how ever have about 4 full-time contract positions in our section. These positions don't qualify for OMERS,benefits, holidays, sick time etc..after 6 months on, a term contract member will get 10% in lieu of holidays and benefits. I started out on contract for my first year, then had to apply for a perminant position when they became available. I never did by back my OMERS time for that year but I can at anytime.

The salaries Tank posted are correct. We just got a little bump in salary on Jan 1st. We now make $33.91 per hour based on 35hrs per week which brings us into the $61K range which is top wage after 4 years. We get another increment in July of about 2% which will bring us in the $62K range.

If we were lucky to get paid lunches like most services, we would be making $70,532.80 right now.

[SHAMROCK]

At Mac we get paid lunches. On our latest contract we have a clause that allows us to bank our lunch time if we don't get it. I think it has to be approved by the Sgt. To the best of my knowledge I don't think anyone has applied for this yet, typically you can take a lunch.