Police Foundations

We have created a series of videos in which program faculty, grads and students share their thoughts and experiences.

1. Joe Hays, First Year Program Coordinator, provides helpful highlights including what sets our program apart, his passion for teaching.
2. Get a sense of our approach to applied learning with Ralph Ashford's Crime Scene Investigation scenario.
3. Hear from Program Graduate OPP Constable Trevor Pitts
4. Hear from Program Graduate Jodi Landriault, Peterborough Lakefield Community Police.
5. Meet students Jesse and Meghan and find out about their placement experiences and future goals.

Program Highlights

By choosing a career in police services, you are making a decision to work with and for a wide diversity of individuals and communities. You will rely on your well-rounded education and background in not just law enforcement, but critical interpersonal and team-building skills. Today's police services personnel must be able to keep up with the pace of societal change, keeping in mind integrity, honesty, enthusiasm, and personal wellness.

To prepare for this challenge, you will take courses in law and justice, and you'll also spend significant time developing your "soft" people skills -- in courses on communications, issues in diversity, psychology, ethics, and sociology. Expect to grow as a person, and maximize your potential.

Fleming College's Police Foundations program has evolved to meet the changing needs of police services and the communities in which they serve.

New curriculum addresses the increasing role of civilian policing in Ontario.  It also provides options for student  who are interested in a career in law and justice and want to take the Police Foundations program as an experience for continuing educational pathways and career opportunities other than a Police Constable.

Students can graduate with a Police Foundations diploma by taking the “stream” that emphasizes civilian policing over fitness. After second semester, students select the program stream that best suits their career goals

University or College Grad?

Are you a university graduate or a college graduate with a diploma in a related field? You are eligible for direct entry into second year of the program. Start in September and you can graduate with your Police Foundations diploma in just two semesters. Contact the program co-ordinator for details.

Success Stories

"Fleming's Police Foundations program offered courses that were valuable to me in preparing to become a police officer. The program starts with a broad overview of what policing is all about, and slowly moves you towards your last semester, with real-life experiences on your work placement. In addition, the faculty provided important information on how to apply to the police service."

Constable Craig Ralph, Program Graduate
Peterborough Lakefield Community Police Service

Why Choose Fleming

In the Police Foundations program, extraordinarily committed and experienced faculty care about each and every student, and actively advocate for their success. We can offer fantastic placement opportunities for experiential learning as the program enjoys the unqualified support of area police services. In short, Fleming College has raised the bar for a new breed of police officer who is educated, skilled, and well-rounded - able to take on any challenge. Fleming's Police Foundations program is known for its excellent reputation and high graduate success rate.

Common First Semester

Students within the School of Law and Justice diploma programs take the same courses for their first semester after choosing and being accepted into one of our programs. This common focus exposes you to a variety of career options and other programs, while you acquire a base of knowledge and fundamental skills. It also enables you to change direction if you find another program or career area is more appealing. You can enter that program in semester two, provided that you have achieved academic success in first semester, and subject to enrolment capacity.

Aboriginal Emphasis Initiative

Fleming College's Aboriginal Emphasis Initiative is an inclusive approach to providing more understanding of Aboriginal peoples, communities and nations. You will have an opportunity to take courses designed from an Aboriginal perspective with emphasis on Aboriginal peoples, history, spirituality and culture. The Aboriginal Emphasis Initiative assists in providing you with a deeper appreciation for the diverse nature of our communities - an essential requirement for the recruiting process.

Work Experience

The placement experience really does set Fleming apart from other police programs at the college level. Due to our close associations and partnerships with police services, you will have an opportunity to take advantage of a wide variety of placements and practicum experiences.

To be eligible for consideration for the placement experience, you must have successfully completed all semester two courses by the time you enter the third semester of the program with a minimum 70% average and need a valid driver's license. Continued success in the third and fourth semesters is necessary to maintain your eligibility for field placement.

NOTE: Placement experience will be subject to a clearance check by the police service. Field placement may extend beyond the 15-week semester, depending on the experience you choose and the preference of the police service placement.

Is this You?

• ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing
• interpersonal skills
• sensitivity to diversity of human experience
• a sense of empathy
• ability to exercise sound judgment
• open-minded
• problem-solving skills
• excellent discernment - the ability to navigate your way through complex and frequently "gray" situations or crises

A balanced approach to personal well-being and health is essential, as both the career and the program are challenging both mentally and physically. To view instructional videos on fitness tests in the Police Foundations program, go here: http://www.youtube.com/user/emergfleming1

 If a career as a police officer is your goal, we strongly urge you to check the qualifications required to ensure that you are eligible, before committing yourself to the Police Foundations program. These requirements are available at the Ontario Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services website under the Constable Selection System. Pay particular attention to the physical requirements, including vision and hearing. Answers to questions regarding criminal records that affect qualifications to apply are also available on this website.

Career Opportunities

Graduates from this program hold the following police services positions:

• police cadet
• police officer

Which may lead to:

• canine unit officer
• traffic collision investigator
• criminal investigator
• forensic investigator
• tactical team member
• training officer
• youth bureau officer
• drug enforcement team
• military police
• supervisor

Expect to start off earning a salary in the $35,000.00 to $40,000.00 range.

Graduates can also find employment opportunities in such job sectors as Canada Border Services, correctional services, the Canadian Forces, private civil and criminal investigation, private security, court enforcement and security, municipal by-law enforcement and the Ministry of Natural Resources (i.e. park rangers).

Minimum Admission Requirements

OSSD with the majority of credits at the College (C) and Open (O) level, including:

• 2 College (C) English courses (Grade 11 or Grade 12)

When (C) is the minimum course level for admission, (U) or (U/C) courses are also accepted.

Mature Students

If you are 19 years of age or older before classes start, and you do not possess an OSSD, you can write the Canadian Adult Achievement Test to assess your eligibility for admission.

* Students starting in January are required to attend classes over the summer semester.

Additional Costs

You should expect to spend around $740 per year for books and supplies.

Transfer Agreements

• Athabasca University
• Griffith University, Queensland, Australia
• Royal Roads University - Victoria, B.C.
• Trent University
• University of New Brunswick
• University of Ontario Institute of Technology

For more information see the Pathways to University page.