The Police Act (R.S.Q., c. P-13.1) charges police forces and each police force member with maintaining peace, order and public security, preventing and repressing crime and, according to their respective jurisdiction, offences under the law or municipal by-laws, and apprehending offenders. In order to comply with this mandate, and taking into consideration the constant state of change that characterizes our society, Québec police have given themselves precise guidelines based on rules and fundamental ethical and moral principles. Police officers of today have at their disposition many tools that optimize the performance of their daily duties of crime prevention and repression, which is largely inspired by the following aspects:
These aspects are integrated into police training and reflected in the objectives pursued by the programs of study concerned. As formerly mentioned, basic training of Québec police officers is accomplished through two distinct but complementary study programs:
The content of any of these two training stages are established from an agreement between all the partners concerned by police training and work in Québec. They lead to separate diplomas: the Diploma of College Studies or the Attestation of College Studies in police technology and the diploma of basic training in police patrolling issued by the École nationale de police du Québec. In accordance with the Police Act (R.S.Q., c. P-13.1), only the diploma issued by the school vests the right to exercise functions as a police officer in Québec.
To be eligible for the program, candidates must meet one of the following requirements:
The philosophy behind the initial training program in Police Patrolling is essentially the same as the Professional Community Policing model. This philosophy has led to the creation of formalized directives and procedures which form the basis of teaching practices used by continuum partners. This model brings police officers and citizens closer together and encourages the partnership between the police, the community, the public and private sector and other justice agencies. It aims to resolve problems within the community and reinforce preventive measures used. During their time at the School, police recruits learn to adopt specific values which will become guidelines to follow throughout their career. These values are : Respect, Integrity, Discipline, Commitment and Responsibility.
Recommendations from the different workers, consolidation objectives, the new training needs in investigation, emergency driving, one-man patrol and use of firearms led the school to update the basic training program in patrolling. This program is designed to allow the development of skills considered necessary to the work of the patrol officer when beginning work within a police organization. Skills of the updated program are the following:
Instead of simply offering traditional types of training, the Patrol Officer Training Program at the school allows candidates to exercise their future profession by becoming part of a police department school. The police station school is made to look like and is managed like the real thing. Candidates enrolled at the school become part of this department whose structure, organization, hierarchy and operations resemble those of an authentic Québec police station. By carrying out professional duties, future police officers are better able to assimilate the knowledge acquired in college and to learn and put into practice various policing techniques.
Technical Disciplines
Training Seminars
Police Recruit Training is ensured in part by police officers on loan. Once at the School, these officers, who have a minimum of five years' experience, undergo training on teaching techniques and operational supervision and are then integrated into a team of more experienced officers who have already been working with recruits for several months. The team leader's role consists of helping police recruits develop their understanding of police work. They interact with candidates in a similar way to which a coach interacts with hockey players. Team leaders play an important part in setting up different scenarios and taking on the role of observers when such scenarios are acted out. Their aim is then to guide and direct candidates in the way they intervene in different situations, as opposed to just dictating the theoretical side of things. Each cohort is made up of 72 police recruits, divided into
two groups of 36 candidates. Each one of these groups is
supervised by three team leaders. For teaching purposes,
the School ensures an equal proportion of team leaders from
all three Quebec police forces is respected, ie. the Sûreté
du Québec, the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal
and a municipal police force. This way, police recruits
have the opportunity to see the different working methods
used throughout the province of Quebec.
Actors The School currently employs around thirty actors, who play a variety of different characters that police recruits have to deal with. The performances they give and the feedback candidates then receive are a valuable part of the training program. Volunteers  Since 1997, community volunteers from the Nicolet region have been contributing to police recruit training by taking on certain roles in different scenarios that are acted out. Each time police recruits intervene, volunteers have to give written feedback so team leaders and recruits can evaluate each intervention. As a result of this community interaction, police recruits
have the opportunity to experience a real-life working environment
and respond to citizens' everyday demands. This kind of
exercise also contributes towards a better public understanding
of the work police officers carry out.
At the conclusion of the program, the school issues a report indicating the degree to which the candidate has mastered the competencies learned. This attestation is the result of a continuing formative and summative evaluation process based on instructor supervision as well as the observations of all the contributors encountered by the candidate during his stay at the École nationale de police du Québec. A diploma in police patrolling is awarded in recognition of the successful achievement of the requisite criteria for each of the competencies making up the program.
The training program lasts for a period of approximately fifteen weeks and registered candidates are required to live on-campus for the duration. Boarding represents an essential part of the training program as it ensures better educational guidance and encourages candidates to develop a sense of responsibility, leadership and team spirit.
The uniform is an essential component of the initial training program in Police Patrolling. Insignia
Presently, the cost to candidates of the Patrol Officer Training Program totaled $ 6 299. The breakdown of expenses was as follows:
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The
School Insignia represents the original facade of the school
building and includes the school motto, "Savoir, Être,
Agir". This insignia is sewn onto police recruits'
caps. Recruits may also wear the insignia on their shirts
during official engagements such as their graduation ceremony.
This insignia is worn in the form of a black leather-mounted
badge. 
