British Columbia Provincial Police

The British Columbia Provincial Police (BCPP) is the primary law enforcement agency of the Canadian province of British Columbia (BC). It is BC's largest law enforcement agency and Canada's third largest, after the Ontario Provincial Police and Sûreté du Québec. The BCPP provides local policing services to the municipalities of British Columbia and handles provincial-level law enforcement duties as directed by the Attorney General of British Columbia.

History
The British Columbia Provincial Police was established in 1858, with the responsibility of policing the newly-formed Colony of British Columbia, the westernmost mainland territory of British North America on the Pacific coast. The official founding of the BCPP is considered to be the appointment of Chartres Brew as the Gold commissioner of British Columbia, which at the time was experiencing a gold rush and a subsequent rapid growth in population due to the influx of prospectors and gold miners. The situation worried the British, who feared an attempt by the United States to annex the colony by prompting rebellion among the migrants, many of whom were American, lived and worked in the gold fields outside of colonial governance, and were well-armed. The BCPP was formed in response with Brew as its de facto Chief Constable (never being officially appointed) under the title Chief Inspector of Police until 1863 and then Superintendent of Police until 1871. Brew was given an unusual amount of powers, both as British Columbia's Gold commissioner and as the Chief Constable of the provincial police, and was vested with the powers of a magistrate to maintain the security and to prevent potential rebellion in the isolated, sparsely populated colony.



The BCPP went through various name changes in its early years, and by 1871 they were called the British Columbia Constabulary. In 1871, the Colony of British Columbia joined Canada as a province, and the BCPP came under the authority of the Attorney General. The reporting structure required the Chief Constable to report to the Attorney General of British Columbia, and constables were under the direction of the government agent of the district who reported to a superintendent and ultimately the Chief Constable. The mandate of the British Columbia Constabulary was to maintain peace and order, and to enforce the laws of the province under the authority of An Act respecting Police Constables (SBC 1880, c. 22, revised SBC 1888, c. 96). In 1895, under the new Provincial Police Act (SBC 1895, c. 45) the name was changed to the British Columbia Provincial Police Force. The duties of the force included patrolling the land, waterways, and coastline, enforcing laws, maintaining peace, policing strikes, controlling smuggling, and generally enforcing provincial statutes. Special constables were also deployed as required. In 1946, the force policed all rural areas and unincorporated settlements as well as forty municipalities throughout the province.



Pemberton was Commissioner of Police until 1866 when the colonies of Vancouver Island and British Columbia were united into a single colony, and the police forces of the two colonies were amalgamated under Chartles Brew, later adopting the name of British Columbia Provincial Police. The force were engaged from within local communities, as per Brew's original policy on this matter based on his experience in Ireland, and until 1923 they were in plainclothes and had no uniform. By 1910, the force roster numbered 186 men. In 1923, the BCPP was reorganized and issued frontier-style khaki uniforms with green piping, flat-brimmed stetson hats, and Sam Browne belts, and a system of semi-military ranks was established. A training school was established for the first time, and a mounted troop, while the force's administration divided the province into divisions to better serve its geographically isolated regions.

Before its Criminal Investigation Directorate was established in the 1920s, the BCPP contracted private detective agencies for criminal investigations and for surveillance of suspected radicals, and was Pinkerton's biggest client in Canada. Nevertheless, over a short period of time it became one of the most modern police agencies in the world, including the first inter-city radio telegraph system fully integrated with radio-equipped cars and coastal patrol vessels in North America, using high-frequency radios which were designed and built in the police workshops. The BCPP became the first law enforcement agency to develop an air arm, crime laboratories and sophisticated sections for fingerprints, firearms and ballistics, identification, highway patrol and criminal investigation.



In the 1930s, the BCPP began to contract municipalities for local policing services, and during World War II the BCPP organized recruitment for the armed forces. Their general duties enforced fishing and hunting licences, providing customs and excise functions, livestock brand inspections, managed trap-line permits and dog licences, Vital Statistics and served civil court documents. They also functioned as Court prosecutors, jailers and prisoner escort and during the labour troubles in Vancouver during the Great Depression helped enforce martial law against strikers on Vancouver's troubled docks and evict protesters from the city's main post office.

Organisation
The BCPP is organised by directorate, each of which is commanded by a ranking assistant chief constable (ACC). Directorates each oversee a particular area of responsibility, although many of their activities overlap and/or collaborate in the course of normal police operations.

Directorates are composed of at least two divisions, which consist of several squads; squads are themselves divided into units, although some bodies directly subordinate to a division or even directorate are also referred to as "units" due to their smaller size. All the same, most units are otherwise the several components which constitute a particular squad. Administrative bodies as well as forensics labs subordinate to a division are usually instead referred to as offices, and consist of civilian employees who are not sworn constables, and trained in their civilian profession rather than by the police academy.

Divisions are commanded by ranking chief superintendents or superintendents, while most regular patrol units consist of constables answerable to a sergeant, and a squad two or three patrol units with their respective sergeants answerable to a staff sergeant; squads are commanded by ranking superintendents, and some independent units are too commanded by a ranking superintendent. Regular units are commanded by a ranking sergeant, staff sergeant, inspector or detective inspector, and administrative offices and labs report to a particular ranking chief superintendent or superintendent, but have their own unique hierarchy due to their civilian status (see below).

Office of the Chief Constable

 * Units answerable directly to Chief Constable
 * Office of the Deputy Chief Constable (CC-DCC)
 * Plenum of Assistant Chief Constables (CC-ACC)
 * Legal Counsel Office (CC-LC)
 * Media Liaison Office (CC-ML)
 * US & International Liaison Office (CC-USI)
 * Interpol Liaison Office (CC-IP)
 * Office of Security Clearance Establishment (CC-SEC)
 * Office of Covert Operations Management (CC-COM)
 * Units answerable to Deputy Chief Constable
 * Chief Constable's Security Detail (CC-SecDet1)
 * Deputy Chief Constable's Security Detail (CC-SecDet2)
 * Crown Prosecution Authority Liaison Office (CC-CPA)
 * Planning, Research & Audit Section (CC-PRA)
 * PCC Liaison Office (CC-PCC)
 * External Law Enforcement Agencies Liaison Office (CC-LEA)
 * Professional Liaison Office (CC-PRO)
 * Budgetary Reporting Office (CC-BR)
 * Suppliers & Contractors Liaison Office (CC-SC)
 * Constabulary Pipe Band (CC-CPB)
 * Auxiliary Units
 * Office of Auxiliary Officer Secondment (Internal) (CC-AuxOSI)
 * Office of Auxiliary Officer Secondment (External) (CC-AuxOSE)
 * 1st Auxiliary Security Detail Unit (CC-AuxSecDet1)
 * 2nd Auxiliary Security Detail Unit (CC-AuxSecDet2)
 * 3rd Auxiliary Security Detail Unit (CC-AuxSecDet3)
 * Auxiliary Tactical Firearms Command (CC-AuxTFC)
 * Auxiliary Criminal Intelligence Unit (CC-AuxCI)
 * Auxiliary Narcotics Unit (CC-AuxNarc)

Directorate of Public Relations

 * Public Relations Division
 * Office of Public Relations Strategy (PR-PRS)
 * Office of Media Relations (PR-MED)
 * Office of Public Communications (PR-COM)
 * Press Conference Unit (PR-CON)
 * Sensitive Information Unit (PR-SI)
 * Constabulary Censor (PR-CNS)
 * Auxiliary Public Relations Unit (PR-Aux)
 * Public Services Division
 * Victim Services Unit (PS-VS)
 * Victim Security Detail (PS-VSecDet)
 * Family Services Unit (PS-FS)
 * Judicial Liaison Office (PS-JL)
 * Corrections Liaison Office (PS-CL)
 * Corporate/Business Liaison Office (PS-BL)
 * Office of Information Protection Standards (PS-IPS)
 * Covert Security Detail (PS-CovSecDet)

Patrol Directorate

 * "A" Division (Lower Mainland West)
 * 1st Patrol Squad (PT-A1)
 * 2nd Patrol Squad (PT-A2)
 * 3rd Patrol Squad (PT-A3)
 * 4th Patrol Squad (PT-A4)
 * 5th Patrol Squad (PT-A5)
 * 6th Patrol Squad (PT-A6)
 * 1st Recon Squad (REC-A1)
 * 2nd Recon Squad (REC-A2)
 * 3rd Recon Squad (REC-A3)
 * 1st Emergency (First Response) Squad (EFR-A1)
 * 2nd Emergency (First Response) Squad (EFR-A2)
 * 3rd Emergency (First Response) Squad (EFR-A3)
 * 4th Emergency (First Response) Unit (EFR-A4)
 * 1st Traffic Squad (TRF-A1)
 * 2nd Traffic Squad (TRF-A2)
 * 3rd Traffic Squad (TRF-A3)
 * 4th Traffic Squad (TRF-A4)
 * 5th Traffic Unit (TRF-A5)
 * 6th Traffic Unit (TRF-A6)
 * 1st Beat (Foot Patrol) Squad (BFP-A1)
 * 2nd Beat (Foot Patrol) Squad (BFP-A2)
 * 3rd Beat (Foot Patrol) Squad (BFP-A3)
 * 1st Mounted Patrol Unit (MP-A1)
 * 2nd Mounted Patrol Unit (MP-A2)
 * 1st K9 Unit (K9-A1)
 * 2nd K9 Unit (K9-A2)
 * 3rd K9 Unit (K9-A3)
 * UBC Campus Security Unit (CampSec-A-UBC)
 * Capilano University Campus Security Unit (CampSec-A-CAPU)
 * BCIT Campus Security Unit (CampSec-A-BCIT)
 * "B" Division: (Lower Mainland East)
 * 1st Patrol Squad (PT-B1)
 * 2nd Patrol Squad (PT-B2)
 * 3rd Patrol Squad (PT-B3)
 * 4th Patrol Squad (PT-B4)
 * 1st Recon Squad (REC-B1)
 * 2nd Recon Squad (REC-B2)
 * 1st Emergency (First Response) Squad (EFR-B1)
 * 2nd Emergency (First Response) Squad (EFR-B2)
 * 3rd Emergency (First Response) Unit (EFR-B3)
 * 1st Traffic Squad (TRF-B1)
 * 2nd Traffic Squad (TRF-B2)
 * 3rd Traffic Squad (TRF-B3)
 * 4th Traffic Squad (TRF-B4)
 * 5th Traffic Unit (TRF-B5)
 * 6th Traffic Unit (TRF-B6)
 * 1st Beat (Foot Patrol) Squad (BFP-B1)
 * 2nd Beat (Foot Patrol) Unit (BFP-B2)
 * 3rd Beat (Foot Patrol) Unit (BFP-B3)
 * 1st Mounted Patrol Unit (MP-B1)
 * 2nd Mounted Patrol Unit (MP-B2)
 * 1st K9 Unit (K9-B1)
 * 2nd K9 Unit (K9-B2)
 * SFU Campus Security Unit (CampSec-B-SFU)
 * TFU Campus Security Unit (CampSec-B-TFU)
 * "C" Division (Fraser Valley)
 * 1st Patrol Squad (PT-C1)
 * 2nd Patrol Squad (PT-C2)
 * 3rd Patrol Squad (PT-C3)
 * 4th Patrol Unit (PT-C4)
 * 1st Recon Squad (REC-C1)
 * 2nd Recon Unit (REC-C2)
 * 3rd Recon Unit (REC-C3)
 * 1st Emergency (First Response) Squad (EFR-C1)
 * 2nd Emergency (First Response) Squad (EFR-C2)
 * 1st Traffic Squad (TRF-C1)
 * 2nd Traffic Squad (TRF-C2)
 * 3rd Traffic Squad (TRF-C3)
 * 4th Traffic Unit (TRF-C4)
 * 1st Beat (Foot Patrol) Squad (BFP-C1)
 * 2nd Beat (Foot Patrol) Unit (BFP-C2)
 * Mounted Patrol Unit (MP-C)
 * 1st K9 Unit (K9-C2)
 * 2nd K9 Unit (K9-C2)
 * FVU Campus Security Unit (CampSec-C-FVU)
 * "D" Division (Sunshine Coast)
 * 1st Patrol Squad (PT-D1)
 * 2nd Patrol Squad (PT-D2)
 * 3rd Patrol Squad (PT-D3)
 * 1st Recon Squad (REC-D1)
 * 2nd Recon Unit (REC-D2)
 * 1st Emergency (First Response) Squad (EFR-D1)
 * 2nd Emergency (First Response) Squad (EFR-D2)
 * 1st Traffic Squad (TRF-D1)
 * 2nd Traffic Squad (TRF-D2)
 * 3rd Traffic Squad (TRF-D3)
 * 4th Traffic Unit (TRF-D4)
 * 1st Beat (Foot Patrol) Squad (BFP-D1)
 * 2nd Beat (Foot Patrol) Unit (BFP-D2)
 * 3rd Beat (Foot Patrol) Unit (BFP-D3)
 * 1st Mounted Patrol Unit (MP-D1)
 * 2nd Mounted Patrol Unit (MP-D2)
 * 1st K9 Unit (K9-D1)
 * 2nd K9 Unit (K9-D2)
 * Gibsons University Campus Security Unit (CampSec-D-GIBU)
 * "E" Division (Okanagan)
 * 1st Patrol Squad (PT-E1)
 * 2nd Patrol Squad (PT-E2)
 * 3rd Patrol Squad (PT-E3)
 * 4th Patrol Squad (PT-E4)
 * 1st Recon Squad (REC-E1)
 * 2nd Recon Unit (REC-E2)
 * 1st Emergency (First Response) Squad (EFR-E1)
 * 2nd Emergency (First Response) Squad (EFR-E2)
 * 3rd Emergency (First Response) Squad (EFR-E3)
 * 1st Traffic Squad (TRF-E1)
 * 2nd Traffic Squad (TRF-E2)
 * 3rd Traffic Squad (TRF-E3)
 * 1st Beat (Foot Patrol) Squad (BFP-E1)
 * 2nd Beat (Foot Patrol) Squad (BFP-E2)
 * 1st Mounted Patrol Unit (MP-E1)
 * 2nd Mounted Patrol Unit (MP-E1)
 * 1st K9 Unit (K9-E1)
 * 2nd K9 Unit (K9-E2)
 * 3rd K9 Unit (K9-E3)
 * "F" Division (Cariboo)
 * 1st Patrol Squad (PT-F1)
 * 2nd Patrol Squad (PT-F2)
 * 3rd Patrol Squad (PT-F3)
 * 4th Patrol Squad (PT-F4)
 * 5th Patrol Squad (PT-F5)
 * 1st Recon Squad (REC-F1)
 * 2nd Recon Squad (REC-F2)
 * 3rd Recon Unit (REC-F3)
 * 1st Emergency (First Response) Squad (EFR-F1)
 * 2nd Emergency (First Response) Squad (EFR-F2)
 * 3rd Emergency (First Response) Squad (EFR-F3)
 * 1st Traffic Squad (TRF-F1)
 * 2nd Traffic Squad (TRF-F2)
 * 3rd Traffic Squad (TRF-F3)
 * 4th Traffic Squad (TRF-F4)
 * 1st Beat (Foot Patrol) Squad (BFP-F1)
 * 2nd Beat (Foot Patrol) Squad (BFP-F2)
 * 3rd Beat (Foot Patrol) Squad (BFP-F3)
 * Mounted Patrol Unit (MP-F)
 * 1st K9 Unit (K9-F1)
 * 2nd K9 Unit (K9-F2)
 * "G" Division (Northern BC)
 * 1st Patrol Squad (PT-G1)
 * 2nd Patrol Squad (PT-G2)
 * 3rd Patrol Squad (PT-G3)
 * 4th Patrol Squad (PT-G4)
 * 5th Patrol Squad (PT-G5)
 * 1st Recon Squad (REC-G1)
 * 2nd Recon Squad (REC-G2)
 * 1st Emergency (First Response) Squad (EFR-G1)
 * 2nd Emergency (First Response) Squad (EFR-G2)
 * 3rd Emergency (First Response) Squad (EFR-G3)
 * 1st Traffic Squad (TRF-G1)
 * 2nd Traffic Squad (TRF-G2)
 * 3rd Traffic Squad (TRF-G3)
 * 4th Traffic Squad (TRF-G4)
 * 1st Beat (Foot Patrol) Squad (BFP-G1)
 * 2nd Beat (Foot Patrol) Squad (BFP-G2)
 * 3rd Beat (Foot Patrol) Squad (BFP-G3)
 * 1st Mounted Patrol Unit (MP-G1)
 * 2nd Mounted Patrol Unit (MP-G2)
 * 1st K9 Unit (K9-A1)
 * 2nd K9 Unit (K9-G2)
 * 3rd K9 Unit (K9-G3)
 * UNBC Campus Security Unit (CampSec-UNBC-G)
 * "H" Division (BC Rockies)
 * 1st Patrol Squad (PT-H1)
 * 2nd Patrol Squad (PT-H2)
 * 3rd Patrol Squad (PT-H3)
 * 1st Recon Squad (REC-H1)
 * 2nd Recon Unit (REC-H2)
 * 1st Emergency (First Response) Squad (EFR-H1)
 * 2nd Emergency (First Response) Unit (EFR-H2)
 * 3rd Emergency (First Response) Unit (EFR-H3)
 * 1st Traffic Squad (TRF-H1)
 * 2nd Traffic Squad (TRF-H2)
 * 3rd Traffic Squad (TRF-H3)
 * 1st Beat (Foot Patrol) Squad (BFP-H1)
 * 2nd Beat (Foot Patrol) Squad (BFP-H2)
 * 1st Mounted Patrol Unit (MP-H1)
 * 2nd Mounted Patrol Unit (MP-H2)
 * 1st K9 Unit (K9-H1)
 * 2nd K9 Unit (K9-H2)
 * Auxiliary Division
 * 1st Auxiliary Patrol Squad (PT-Aux1)
 * 2nd Auxiliary Patrol Squad (PT-Aux2)
 * 3rd Auxiliary Patrol Squad (PT-Aux3)
 * 1st Auxiliary Reconnaissance Squad (REC-Aux1)
 * 2nd Auxiliary Reconnaissance Squad (REC-Aux2)
 * 1st Auxiliary Emergency (First Response) Squad (EFR-Aux1)
 * 2nd Auxiliary Emergency (First Response) Squad (EFR-Aux2)
 * 3rd Auxiliary Emergency (First Response) Squad (EFR-Aux3)
 * 4th Auxiliary Emergency (First Response) Unit (EFR-Aux4)
 * 5th Auxiliary Emergency (First Response) Unit (EFR-Aux5)
 * 1st Auxiliary Traffic Squad (TRF-Aux1)
 * 2nd Auxiliary Traffic Squad (TRF-Aux2)
 * 3rd Auxiliary Traffic Squad (TRF-Aux3)
 * 1st Auxiliary K9 Unit (K9-Aux1)
 * 2nd Auxiliary K9 Unit (K9-Aux2)
 * Marine Division
 * 1st Marine Patrol Squad (PT-MPD1)
 * 2nd Marine Patrol Squad (PT-MPD2)
 * 3rd Marine Patrol Squad (PT-MPD3)
 * 4th Marine Patrol Squad (PT-MPD4)
 * 5th Marine Patrol Squad (PT-MPD5)
 * 1st Marine Reconnaissance Squad (REC-MPD1)
 * 2nd Marine Reconnaissance Squad (REC-MPD2)
 * 1st Marine Search & Rescue Unit (SR-MPD1)
 * 2nd Marine Search & Rescue Unit (SR-MPD2)
 * 3rd Marine Search & Rescue Unit (SR-MPD3)
 * Marine Pilot Unit (MPU-MPD)
 * 1st Divers Unit (DIV-MPD1)
 * 2nd Divers Unit (DIV-MPD2)
 * 3rd Divers Unit (DIV-MPD3)
 * 1st Amphibious Tactical Response Unit (ATR-MPD1)
 * 2nd Amphibious Tactical Response Unit (ATR-MPD2)

Transit Patrol Directorate
Responsible for patrolling the public transit system.


 * Commuter Rail Division
 * West Coast Express Squad (TR-CR1)
 * Howe Sound Express Squad (TR-CR2)
 * 1st K9 Unit (K9-CR1)
 * 2nd K9 Unit (K9-CR2)
 * 3rd K9 Unit (K9-CR3)
 * Translink Division
 * 1st Bus Patrol Squad (TR-TL1)
 * 2nd Bus Patrol Squad (TR-TL2)
 * 3rd Bus Patrol Squad (TR-TL3)
 * 4th Bus Patrol Squad (TR-TL4)
 * 5th Bus Patrol Squad (TR-TL5)
 * 6th Bus Patrol Squad (TR-TL6)
 * 7th Bus Patrol Squad (TR-TL7)
 * 1st Rapid Bus Patrol Squad (TR-RB1)
 * 2nd Rapid Bus Patrol Squad (TR-RB2)
 * 3rd Rapid Bus Patrol Squad (TR-RB3)
 * 1st Skytrain Patrol Unit (TR-SKY1)
 * 2nd Skytrain Patrol Unit (TR-SKY2)
 * 3rd Skytrain Patrol Unit (TR-SKY3)
 * 4th Skytrain Patrol Unit (TR-SKY4)
 * 5th Skytrain Patrol Unit (TR-SKY5)
 * 6th Skytrain Patrol Unit (TR-SKY6)
 * 1st K9 Unit (K9-TR1)
 * 2nd K9 Unit (K9-TR2)
 * 3rd K9 Unit (K9-TR3)
 * 4th K9 Unit (K9-TR4)
 * Transit Investigation Division
 * CCTV Unit (TR-CCTV)
 * Audio Surveillance Unit (TR-ASU)
 * Facial Recognition Unit (TR-FRU)
 * Incident Investigation Unit (TR-IIU)
 * TransLink/Coast Mountain Liaison Office (TR-LO)

Criminal Investigation Directorate (CID)
This directorate consists of units of plainclothes officers each typically led by a superintendent, detective chief inspector or detective inspector; they are responsible for investigating crimes after they occur, especially serious crimes like murder, as well as most undercover operations.


 * Major Crime Division
 * Homicide Squad (CID-MC1)
 * Auxiliary Homicide Unit (CID-MC1-Aux)
 * Major Violent Crime Squad (CID-MC2)
 * Home Invasion & Major Theft Unit (CID-MC3)
 * Auto Theft Unit (CID-MC4)
 * Auxiliary Theft Unit (CID-MC4-Aux)
 * Major Domestic Violence Unit (CID-MC5)
 * 1st Organised Crime Squad (CID-MC6)
 * 2nd Organised Crime Squad (CID-MC7)
 * Armed Robbery Unit (CID-MC8)
 * Traffic Crimes & Major Traffic Incidents Squad (CID-MC9)
 * Narcotics Squad (CID-MC-NAR)
 * Special Victims Unit (CID-MC-SVU)
 * Tactical Crime Division
 * 1st Tactical Crime Squad (CID-TC1)
 * 2nd Tactical Crime Squad (CID-TC2)
 * Tactical Anti-Kidnapping Unit (CID-TC3)
 * 1st Auxiliary Tactical Unit (CID-TC-Aux1)
 * 2nd Auxiliary Tactical Unit (CID-TC-Aux2)
 * Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women Task Force (CID-MMIW)
 * Missing Persons Division
 * 1st Missing Persons Squad (CID-MPD1)
 * 2nd Missing Persons Squad (CID-MPD2)
 * 3rd Missing Persons Squad (CID-MPD3)
 * 1st Tactical Search & Rescue Squad (CID-MPD-TSR1)
 * 2nd Tactical Search & Rescue Squad (CID-MPD-TSR2)
 * Auxiliary Missing Persons Unit (CID-MPD-Aux)
 * Vice Division
 * Organized Crime (Gang) Squad (CID-V1)
 * Human Trafficking/Prostitution Squad (CID-V2)
 * 1st Sex Crimes Unit (CID-V3)
 * 2nd Sex Crimes Unit (CID-V4)
 * Criminal Intelligence Office (CID-V5)
 * Confidential Informant Office (CID-V6)
 * 1st Tactical Narcotics Unit (CID-NARTAC1)
 * 2nd Tactical Narcotics Unit (CID-NARTAC2)
 * Auxiliary Tactical Narcotics Unit (CID-NARTAC-Aux)
 * Weapons Trafficking & Gun Recovery Unit (CID-V7)
 * Auxiliary Gun Recovery Unit (CID-V7-Aux)
 * Financial Crimes & Fraud Division
 * Anti-Laundering Squad (CID-FC1)
 * Serious Financial Crimes Unit (CID-FC2)
 * Insurance Claims Fraud Unit (CID-FC3)
 * Fraud Unit (CID-FC4)
 * Auxiliary Fraud Unit (CID-FC5)
 * Public Anticorruption & Accountability Unit (CID-FC6)
 * Illegal Gambling Unit (CID-FC7)
 * Racketeering Unit (CID-FC8)
 * Tax Evasion/Audits Unit (CID-FC9)
 * Auxiliary Audits Unit (CID-FC-Aux)
 * Antitrust/Speculation Unit (CID-FC10)
 * Covert Fraud Investigation Unit (CID-FC11)

Counterterrorism Directorate (CTD)
This directorate is responsible for both intelligence regarding foreign and domestic terrorist threats, as well as heavily armed physical response to such threats.

Strategic Firearms Command (8 squads) – (CTD-SFC)
 * Strategic Counterterrorism Division
 * 1st Explosives Ordnance Disposal Unit (CTD-EOD1)
 * 2nd Explosives Ordnance Disposal Unit (CTD-EOD2)
 * 3rd Explosives Ordnance Disposal Unit (CTD-EOD3)
 * National Counterterrorism Liaison Office (CTD-NCLO)
 * Tactical Counterterrorism Division
 * 1st Tactical Riot Response Unit (CTD-TAC1)
 * 2nd Tactical Riot Response Unit (CTD-TAC2)
 * 3rd Tactical Riot Response Unit (CTD-TAC3)
 * 1st Hostage Crisis/Negotiation Squad (CTD-NEG)
 * 1st Auxiliary Tactical Response Unit (CTD-TAC-Aux1)
 * 2nd Auxiliary Tactical Response Unit (CTD-TAC-Aux2)
 * Counterterrorism Intelligence Division
 * Terrorist Groups Intelligence Squad (CTD-INT1)
 * 1st Auxiliary Intelligence Unit (CTD-INT-Aux1)
 * 2nd Auxiliary Intelligence Unit (CTD-INT-Aux2)
 * 1st Domestic Counterterrorism Unit (CTD-DOM1)
 * 2nd Domestic Counterterrorism Unit (CTD-DOM2)
 * 3rd Domestic Counterterrorism Unit (CTD-DOM3)

Cybercrime Directorate (CCD)

 * Internet Crimes Division
 * Cybercrime Squad (CCD-IC1)
 * 1st Auxiliary Cybercrime Unit (CCD-IC-Aux1)
 * 2nd Auxiliary Cybercrime Unit (CCD-IC-Aux2)
 * Digital Footprint Unit (CCD-IC2)
 * Metadata Unit (CCD-IC3)
 * Cryptography Unit (CCD-IC4)
 * Interdivisional Cyber Support Division
 * Cyber Fraud Unit (CCD-ID1)
 * Online Scams Unit (CCD-ID2)
 * Hacking & Phishing Unit (CCD-ID3)
 * Cyberintelligence Unit (CCD-ID4)

Air Support Directorate (ASD)

 * 1st Rotary Wing Patrol Unit (ASD-P1)
 * 2nd Rotary Wing Patrol Unit (ASD-P2)
 * 3rd Rotary Wing Patrol Unit (ASD-P3)
 * Police Aviation Training Unit (ASD-PAT)
 * Transport & Logistics Unit (ASD-TL)
 * Executive Air Transport Unit (ASD-EX)
 * UAV/Drone Unit (ASD-UAV)
 * Auxiliary Air Transport Unit (ASD-Aux)

Directorate of Internal Affairs

 * Internal Affairs, Unit 4 (IA4)
 * Internal Affairs, Unit 5 (IA5)
 * Internal Affairs, Unit 9 (IA9)

Forensics Directorate

 * Crime Scene Investigation Division
 * 1st Mobile Forensic Investigation Unit (CSI-M1)
 * 2nd Mobile Forensic Investigation Unit (CSI-M2)
 * 3rd Mobile Forensic Investigation Unit (CSI-M3)
 * 1st Crime Scene Evidence Unit (CSI-EV1)
 * 2nd Crime Scene Evidence Unit (CSI-EV2)
 * 3rd Crime Scene Evidence Unit (CSI-EV3)
 * 1st Mobile Postmortem Forensic Unit (CSI-MPM1)
 * 2nd Mobile Postmortem Forensic Unit (CSI-MPM2)
 * 1st Witness Interview Unit (CSI-WI1)
 * 2nd Witness Interview Unit (CSI-WI2)
 * 3rd Witness Interview Unit (CSI-WI3)
 * Mobile Ballistics Unit (CSI-MB)
 * Mobile HAZMAT Forensics Unit (CSI-HAZMAT)
 * Forensic Lab Division
 * 1st Victim Forensic Unit (CSI-FL1)
 * 2nd Victim Forensic Unit (CSI-FL2)
 * Postmortem Forensic Lab (CSI-PM)
 * Forensic Psychology Unit (CSI-PSY)
 * 1st Financial Forensic Unit (CSI-FF1)
 * 2nd Financial Forensic Unit (CSI-FF2)
 * Virtual Forensic Lab (CSI-VF)
 * Ballistics Lab (CSI-BL)
 * Electronic/Digital Forensic Lab (CSI-E/D)
 * Communications Investigation Unit (CSI-COM)
 * Automatic Number-Plate Recognition Unit (CSI-ANPR)
 * Evidence & Impound Division
 * 1st Armoured Evidence Transport Unit (CSI-EID1)
 * 2nd Armoured Evidence Transport Unit (CSI-EID2)
 * 3rd Armoured Evidence Transport Unit (CSI-EID3)
 * Mary Hill Depot (CSI-MH)
 * Burns Bog Depot (CSI-BB)
 * Annacis Island Depot (CSI-AI)
 * Burnaby Vehicle Impound Centre (CSI-IMP1)
 * Abbotsford Vehicle Impound Centre (CSI-IMP2)
 * Contraband Incineration Facility (CSI-INC)

Communications & Logistics Directorate (CLD)

 * Equipment Requisition & Financial Division
 * Constabulary Budget Office (CLD-FD1)
 * Financial Reporting Office (CLD-FD2)
 * Communications Equipment Procurement Office (CLD-FD3)
 * Tactical Equipment Procurement Office (CLD-FD4)
 * Uniforms Procurement Office (CLD-FD5)
 * Auxiliary Hardware Procurement Office (CLD-FD-Aux)
 * Communications & Dispatch Division
 * 1st Emergency Dispatch Unit (CLD-CD1)
 * 2nd Emergency Dispatch Unit (CLD-CD2)
 * 3rd Emergency Dispatch Unit (CLD-CD3)
 * SitRep/Personnel Activity Unit (CLD-SITREP)
 * Airwave Radio Coordination Unit (CLD-ARC)
 * 1st Tactical Communications Unit (CLD-TAC1)
 * 2nd Tactical Communications Unit (CLD-TAC2)
 * Airwave & Communications Maintenance/Technical Unit (CLD-AW)
 * Armoury Division
 * Colebrook Road Armoury (CLD-ARM1)
 * East Kilgard Armoury (CLD-ARM2)
 * Hastings Armoury (CLD-ARM3)
 * Jericho Armoury (CLD-ARM4)
 * IT Division
 * 1st Mobile IT Unit (CLD-IT1)
 * 2nd Mobile IT Unit (CLD-IT2)
 * 3rd Mobile IT Unit (CLD-IT3)
 * 4th Mobile IT Unit (CLD-IT4)
 * 5th Mobile IT Unit (CLD-IT5)
 * Vehicle Maintenance Division
 * 1st Police Interceptor Maintenance Unit (CLD-VMD1)
 * 2nd Police Interceptor Maintenance Unit (CLD-VMD2)
 * 3rd Police Interceptor Maintenance Unit (CLD-VMD3)
 * Aircraft Maintenance Unit (CLD-VMD4)
 * Armoured Vehicle Maintenance Unit (CLD-VMD5)
 * Maritime Maintenance Unit (CLD-VMD6)

Human Resources Directorate (HR)

 * Recruitment Division
 * 1st Recruitment Unit (HR-RD1)
 * 2nd Recruitment Unit (HR-RD2)
 * 3rd Recruitment Unit (HR-RD3)
 * Medical & Psychological Standards Unit (HR-MPS)
 * Aptitude Testing Unit (HR-APT)
 * Background Screening Unit (HR-BSU)
 * 1st Placement Unit (HR-PL1)
 * 2nd Placement Unit (HR-PL2)
 * 3rd Placement Unit (HR-PL3)
 * Personnel Division
 * Transfers Unit (HR-PD1)
 * Officer Records Unit (HR-PD2)
 * Medical Records Unit (HR-PD3)
 * Personnel Medical Clinic (HR-PMC)
 * Bodycam Processing Unit (HR-BR1)
 * Bodycam Publishing Unit (HR-BR2)
 * Retainment & Payroll Unit (HR-PD4)
 * Accreditation Unit (HR-PD5)
 * Alumni Unit (HR-ALM)
 * Personnel Counselling Unit (HR-COUN1)
 * Family Counselling Unit (HR-COUN2)
 * Kennedy Police Academy
 * Medical Vetting Unit (HR-KPA-MED)
 * Vetting & Background Unit (HR-KPA-VET)
 * Academy Instructors Cadre (HR-KPA-AI)
 * 1st Cadets Class (HR-KPA-C1)
 * 2nd Cadets Class (HR-KPA-C2)
 * 3rd Cadets Class (HR-KPA-C3)
 * 4th Cadets Class (HR-KPA-C4)
 * 5th Cadets Class (HR-KPA-C5)
 * Firearms Training Unit (HR-KPA-FT)
 * Advanced Driving Training Unit (HR-KPA-AD)
 * Self-Defence Training Unit (HR-KPA-SD)
 * Advanced Self-Defence Training Unit (HR-KPA-ASD)
 * Nonviolent Intervention/Negotiation Training Unit (HR-KPA-NVI/NEG)
 * Nonlethal Weapons Training Unit (HR-KPA-NON/L)
 * 1st Ethics Training Unit (HR-KPA-E1)
 * 2nd Ethics Training Unit (HR-KPA-E2)
 * Sexual Policy Training Unit (HR-KPA-SPT)
 * Antidiscrimination Training Unit (HR-KPA-AD)
 * Detainment Training Unit (HR-KPA-DET)
 * Bomb Disposal Training Unit (HR-KPA-EOD)
 * Academy Instructors' Squad (HR-KPA-IN)
 * Academy Administrative Unit (HR-KPA-AD)
 * Academy Maintenance Unit (HR-KPA-MAT)
 * Academy Guards Unit (HR-KPA-GUA)
 * Academy IT Unit (HR-KPA-IT)
 * Academy Class Testing Unit (HR-KPA-ACT)
 * Academy Graduation Certification Unit (HR-KPA-AGC)
 * Austin Heights Police & Forensics Academy
 * 1st Cadets Class (HR-PFA-C1)
 * 2nd Cadets Class (HR-PFA-C2)
 * 1st Forensics Class (HR-PFA-F1)
 * 2nd Forensics Class (HR-PFA-F2)
 * Civilian Administrative Training Program (HR-PFA-CIV)
 * Academy Instructors' Unit (HR-PFA-IN)
 * Academy Administrative Unit (HR-PFA-AD)
 * Academy Maintenance Unit (HR-PFA-MAT)
 * Academy Guards Unit (HR-PFA-GUA)
 * Academy Class Testing Unit (HR-PFA-ACT)
 * Academy Graduation Certification Unit (HR-PFA-AGC)

Uniform
The standard uniform for all sworn constables is as follows; note that uniformed officers on desk duty are required to wear only the first four items and may remove all attachments including gun from belt, while officers on outdoor duty must wear full uniform (except for long-sleeved jacket, which is optional, but standard during colder months):


 * 1) Navy blue cotton trousers of the western slack style; two open front pockets, two snap-fastened back pockets, and one zipper-fastened pocket on outer side of each leg just above and behind the knee; a yellow stripe running down the outer side of each trouser leg, from belt to cuff, one inch in width;
 * 2) Navy blue button-down shirt, with navy blue tie held in place by tie clip, and buttoned epaulets fitted with navy blue sleeve displaying rank insignia; shoulder flash sewn below epaulettes on each shoulder; left-hand breast pocket opposite name tag over right-hand breast; shirt comes in short- and long-sleeve variants and white dress variant for desk duty;
 * 3) Light, leather, laced black combat boots with steel toe and hidden tactical knife holster attached to boot of choice; officers on desk duty and plainclothes detectives instead wear approved black dress shoes;
 * 4) Grommet-style leather duty belt to fasten pants at waist; specially designed with riveted holes to allow attachment of leather handgun holster, up to three leather single-magazine holsters, leather flashlight holster, leather taser holster, leather baton/nightstick holster, leather pepper spray holster, leather zipped double handcuff holster, deluxe leather key holster (with both interior and exterior keyring attachments), leather holster for safety and forensics gloves, leather case for police notepad, leather holster for mobile phone, holster for police radio with in/out speaker connected by spiral cable held in place above left breast (if right-handed) or right breast (if left-handed) by small holster attached to collar button; belt fastened by heavy duty stainless steel buckle, and fed through trouser belt loops prior to attachment of above equipment;
 * 5) Navy blue bulletproof vest with removable snap-fastened breast pockets (name tag sewn to right-hand breast pocket as vest obscures shirt name tag) and three additional removable magazine holsters; navy blue-and-white dicing (checkered pattern) made from light-reflective material displayed across frontt and back of vest under "POLICE" printed in white from same reflective material; shirt epaulets with attached rank sleeve are buttoned over shoulder straps of bulletproof vest so as not to obscure rank insignia; optional version of bulletproof vest is made from reflective lime green material with same markings as regular version, for higher visibility;
 * 6) Optional long-sleeved zipper-fastened navy blue jacket worn over bulletproof vest (with bulletproof vest front pockets removed, replaced by breast pockets and clip-on options for additional pockets and/or magazine holsters on front of jacket); like shirt, jacket includes right-hand breast name tag as others are obscured by jacket, has epaulettes buttoned in place with sleeves displaying rank insignia, and shoulder flash sewn below epaulettes on shoulder sides, flag of Canada sewn under right-hand shoulder flash and flag of BC under left-hand shoulder flash; same navy blue-and-white dicing and "POLICE" (both light-reflective) as on bulletproof vest displayed on back of jacket; alternative jacket version made of reflective lime green material;
 * 7) Peaked hat with inch-thick yellow band and embossed constabulary badge displayed in centre of hat over band; female officers may wear same hat, though not mandatory outdoors as for male officers.

Rank structure
The following system of ranks applies to all constables (sworn officers) of the Lower Mainland Constabulary; civilian employees, such as administrative staff or forensics professionals and other specialists, do not use this ranking system but rather a three-tiered system reminiscent of corporate hierarchies.

All police rank insignia are worn as epaulettes atop both shoulders while in uniform (both indoor office dress and outdoor working uniform), and rank title and corresponding insignia are also included on an officer's warrant card (the proof of police officer status attached to the inside of an officer's wallet, which also includes official photo ID and embossed silver police badge, which is distinct from the laminated photo ID required to be worn on a loose band hung round any police employee's neck while in a constabulary building or judicial institution), allowing plainclothes and/or undercover officers to prove their police status and rank when necessary.

All officers have their badge number displayed prominently as part of their warrant card's embossed badge, while only the two lowest ranks (constable and sergeant) have their badge number displayed on their epaulettes as well; this is for tactical purposes, as police response often involves the presence of multiple constables and even sergeants (especially larger incidents), making it easier for senior ranking officers to distinguish between the multiple officers under their command.

For constables assigned to the Criminal Investigation Directorate and similar directorates (up to and including the rank of Chief Superintendent), "Detective" is prefixed to the rank, replacing "Police" in applicable ranks.

Civilian ranks
Employees of the constabulary who are not sworn constables (police officers) account for just under one fifth of personnel, and are referred to as civilian personnel (although this is technically a misnomer, as sworn constables are in actuality also civilians, at least as distinguished from military personnel; nevertheless, this is the terminology used in police departments across the country). Civilian personnel fill all sorts of roles, including but not limited to administrative and human resources staff, personal aides, forensics, scientific, IT and other experts, pilots, doctors and medics, maintenance personnel, mechanics, etc.

Civilian staff use a three-tiered ranking system which resembles a simplified corporate-style hierarchy. While all civilian personnel have their civilian rank displayed on their photo ID card (which, like sworn constables, must be worn on a band round their neck at all times while on duty in a constabulary building or judicial institution), the most distinguishing mark is necktie colour.

The highest civilian rank (director) typically answers to a sworn constable (police officer) of the superintendent or chief superintendent rank, although this varies in certain situations; for example, each directorate of the constabulary has a civilian director who is responsible for leading the administrative side of the directorate, and thus reports to the Assistant Chief Constable in charge of the directorate. Technically, however, all civilian personnel are subordinate in rank to all sworn constables irrespective of police rank.

Security clearance
The BCPP uses a five-tiered hierarchy of security clearance, each tier dictating the investigational/operational information and evidence to which an officer or civilian employee may have access, based on said materials' sensitivity. Different police divisions and units require differing security clearance levels, depending on the sensitivity of work they do.

All sworn constables are required to have the lowest (fifth) level, while civilian personnel are only required to have a security clearance if their particular role requires it, with many civilian personnel including the great majority of administrative personnel having no security clearance.

Below is a table of the five tiers of security clearance, starting from the highest tier to the lowest. Each tier possesses a codename as well as a colour code; the colour code is used to mark security clearance-protected documents, and also appears on an officer's warrant card and ID card as well as a civilian employee's ID card to indicate the level of security clearance possessed.

While all sworn constables are required to have at least the "echo" (fifth and lowest) security clearance level, much of the constabulary’s investigations and operations, especially those of the Patrol and Transit Patrol directorates, as well as many units of the Criminal Investigation Directorate, are not considered "classified"; that is, civilian staff working in such directorates do not require even the lowest level of security clearance to access the information needed to do their job, and therefore are for the most part without it, and that information and/or evidence gathered by the police in the course of an investigation is not privileged and in fact fully open and accessible to the public under the Access to Information Act.

Operations covered by any security clearance level, however, are considered classified and may not be shared or even discussed with outside parties or constabulary employees not possessing the adequate security clearance level, according to the constabulary's regulations. The higher the security clearance level, the more severe the punishment for leaking classified information protected by that level to parties not possessing the proper level affording them the right to access said classified information: leakage of the lowest three levels (echo, delta and charlie) is punishable by suspension from all duties and unpaid leave, the duration of which is longer the higher the level of security clearance disregarded (between two and six months), while leakage of information protected by the second-highest level (bravo) is punishable by immediate dishonourable discharge from the force and usually the loss of retirement pension and/or unemployment insurance, and leakage of information protected by the highest level (alpha) is punishable by a prison sentence of at least ten years.