Waterloo Regional Police Service
The Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS) provides policing services for the Regional Municipality of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada which encompasses the cities of Waterloo, Kitchener, Cambridge,as well as the townships of North Dumfries, Wellesley, Wilmot and Woolwich. WRPS was established in 1973 to replace the individual police departments in the region. The cities of Kitchener, Waterloo and Galt; Towns of Preston, Hespeler, Elmira and New Hamburg; the Village of Bridgeport and Waterloo Township had their own respective police department. The Townships of Woolwich, Wellesley, Wilmot and North Dumfries were under the jurisdiction of the Ontario Provincial Police. In 1991 Waterloo Regional Police Force was renamed with the current name.[1]
Organization
Since December 12, 2007, former Deputy Chief Matt Torigian replaced retiring Chief of Police Larry Gravill. A position which Larry Gravill held since 1992. In 1991, to minimize the negativity associated with the word "force", the department changed its name from Waterloo Regional Police Force to Waterloo Regional Police Service.
Headquarters
Headquarters is located at 200 Maple Grove Road on the border with Cambridge and Kitchener. This site was chosen as it is geographically center to all the urban areas within the region. Waterloo Regional Police headquarters has a museum in the lobby complete with old uniforms, equipment and information on the departments prior to 1973.
Detachments
CENTRAL Formerly Division 1- 134 Frederick St, Kitchener
RURAL SOUTH Formerly Division 1A- 34 Peel St, New Hamburg
SOUTH Formerly Division 2- 176 Hespeler Rd, Cambridge
NORTH Formerly Division 3- 14 Erb St W, Waterloo
RURAL NORTH Formerly Division 3A- 13 Industrial Dr, Elmira
Branches & Divisions
WRPS is made up of:
Patrol Divisions
- CENTRAL Division One- Serving the City of Kitchener (East of Victoria Street, south of Belmont Ave to Highland and South of Westmount to Highway 7/8) & Woolwich Township east of Highway 7
- SOUTH Division Two- Serving the City of Cambridge & North Dumfries Township
- NORTH Division Three-Serving the City of Waterloo, portions of Woolwich Township & Areas of Kitchener not served by Division 1
- RURAL SOUTH Division 1A- Serving Wilmot & Southern Wellesley Township
- RURAL NORTH Division 3A- Serving Woolwich and Northern Wellesley Township
Divisions 1,2 & 3 also each have a Criminal Investigations Branch within the division.
Investigative Services
- Homicide
- Major Case Unit
- Fraud Branch
- Traffic Services
- Forensic Identification
- Domestic Violence Unit
- Elder Abuse
- Traffic
- Collision Reporting Center
- Technical Crime Unit
Strategic & Tactical Services (Division 7)
- Special Response Unit
- Drug Branch
- Intelligence
Support Services
- Communications Branch
- Records Branch
- Evidence Management
- Court Services
- Information Technology
Community & Corporate Services
- Community Resources
- Human Resources
- Training Branch
- Quality Asuurance
Policing Standards
- Public Complaints
Executive Office
- Media Relations
- Emergency Planning
- Research & Planning
- Business Planning
Fleet
Currently in use:
- Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor
- Dodge Magnum
- Chevrolet Impala
- Ford Econoline Van
- GMC Savana
Marked cruisers are white with a solid unbroken red stripe approximately two inches in width. Below the red stripe are two solid blue stripes about one inch wide which merge and shift upwards and over the trunk lid forming one solid blue line approximately six inches wide. The logo is placed on the rear pillar and the motto "people helping people" is on the rear quarter panels. In the past year, the department has begun ordering new vehicles which are painted navy blue on the hood, trunk lid, front and rear quarter panels and front and rear bumpers and a red and blue light bar. The words Waterloo Regional Police are gray with a blue border. Also a distinct solid red line curves from the front and disappears into the words and continues onto the rear quarter panel, similar to a swoosh.
Previously:
Listen to them LIVE on the NET
- Live feed of Waterloo Regional Police. http://cykf.net/Liveatc/Index.html
Officer Ranks
The rank structure used by the WRPS is defined by regulations of Ontario's Police Services Act.
- Chief of Police (Crown and three maple leaves)
- Deputy Chief (Crown and two maple leaves)
- Superintendent (Crown)
- Inspector (Two maple leaves)
- Staff Sergeant (Crown and three chevrons)
- Sergeant (Three chevrons)
- Constable
The Waterloo Regional Police Service does not use the ranks of Staff Superintendent or Staff Inspector.