Mounties may revive 'special constable' rank

A policing tradition in the N.W.T. may make a comeback.

During its early days in the North, the RCMP employed special constables – mostly aboriginal people – as guides, translators and hunters for regular RCMP members.

Now the force plans to reintroduce the rank – with a twist.

The move comes because the RCMP wants more local and aboriginal officers who can police their home communities.

Currently, the use of auxiliary members in some communities helps do that. But the auxiliary officers are unpaid volunteers, and aren't entitled to the normal benefits and privileges of regular members.

RCMP say the new special constables would be paid and have opportunities for promotion.

"Ultimately we hope to make it more attractive for special constables to join the forces," says Sgt. Don Halina with the RCMP in Yellowknife.

"There would be a pay scale more in line with regular members, and promotion within the special constable rank, which wasn't afforded before."

Otto Binder of Inuvik likes the idea.

He became a special constable in 1955 and spent years guiding RCMP officers by snowshoe and dogsled over the mountains between Inuvik and Old Crow.

Binder says he can't imagine a better job, but he says special constables often wanted to become regular members so they could have the same pay and career opportunities as their colleagues.

Binder says he's happy to hear of any effort to increase the number of aboriginal people on the police force. Just 31 of the territory's 173 members are aboriginal.

The proposal still has to be approved by top RCMP officials in Ottawa.