Waterloo Regional Police
Encyclopedia
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.
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.
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.
CENTRAL Formerly Division 1- 134 Frederick St, Kitchener
SOUTH Formerly Division 2- 176 Hespeler Rd, Cambridge
RURAL NORTH Formerly Division 3A- 13 Industrial Dr, Elmira
RURAL SOUTH Formerly Division 1A- 34 Peel St, New Hamburg
Patrol Divisions
All divisions also each have a Criminal Investigations Branch.
Investigative Services
Strategic & Tactical Services (Division 7)
Support Services
Community & Corporate Services
Policing Standards
Executive Office
Marked cruisers are white, with hood, trunk lid, front and rear quarter panels and bumpers painted navy blue. The words Waterloo Regional Police appear in white retroreflective text with a navy blue outline. A distinct solid red line curves from the front, through to the rear of the vehicle, with the motto "People Helping People" and "911" on the rear quarter panel. A series of white horizontal stripes appear above and below the curved red stripe. The crest of the police service appears on the rear pillar as well. A Canadian flag in addition to any special designations for the vehicle, such as "Supervisor", "Traffic", "Duty Officer" are displayed on the front fender. On the rear of the cruiser, the text "Waterloo Regional Police" is displayed on the left side of the trunk lid, and the vehicle number and divisional designation (where applicable) on the right side. On the bumper appears the police service website (wrps.on.ca), along with the Crime Stoppers tip-line number encompassed by retroreflective chevrons. Affixed to the roof is a red and blue LED light bar, as well as several antennas for communication and GPS.
The WRPS Traffic Branch also employs a marked "stealth" cars, which features the same markings, except in a retroreflective black-on-black design.
Previously:
The Waterloo Regional Police Service does not use the ranks of Staff Superintendent or Staff Inspector.
Regional Municipality of Waterloo, Ontario
The Regional Municipality of Waterloo is a regional municipality located in Southern Ontario, Canada. It consists of the cities of Kitchener, Cambridge, and Waterloo, and the townships of Wellesley, Woolwich, Wilmot, and North Dumfries. It is often referred to as the Region of Waterloo or just...
in Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
which encompasses the cities of Waterloo
Waterloo, Ontario
Waterloo is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada. It is the smallest of the three cities in the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, and is adjacent to the city of Kitchener....
, Kitchener
Kitchener, Ontario
The City of Kitchener is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada. It was the Town of Berlin from 1854 until 1912 and the City of Berlin from 1912 until 1916. The city had a population of 204,668 in the Canada 2006 Census...
, Cambridge
Cambridge, Ontario
Cambridge is a city located in Southern Ontario at the confluence of the Grand and Speed rivers in the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. It is an amalgamation of the City of Galt, the towns of Preston and Hespeler, and the hamlet of Blair.Galt covers the largest portion of...
,as well as the townships of North Dumfries
North Dumfries, Ontario
The Township of North Dumfries is a rural township in Ontario, Canada, part of the Region of Waterloo. Its 2006 Census population was 9,063.The township includes the communities of Ayr, Branchton, Clyde, Reidsville and Roseville.-History:...
, Wellesley
Wellesley, Ontario
The Township of Wellesley is the rural, north-western township of the Regional Municipality of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada. It encompasses 277.84 km2 and had a population of 9,789 in the Canada 2006 Census.-Communities:...
, Wilmot
Wilmot, Ontario
The Township of Wilmot is a rural township in the Regional Municipality of Waterloo in southwestern Ontario, Canada. Its 2006 Census population was 17,097.-Communities:*Baden* Mannheim*New Dundee*New Hamburg* Petersburg* Phillipsburg*St...
and Woolwich
Woolwich, Ontario
The Township of Woolwich is a rural township in Ontario, Canada. It is part of the Region of Waterloo, immediately to the north and east of the City of Waterloo. Its 2006 census population was 19,658.-Communities:*Bloomingdale*Breslau*Conestogo*Elmira...
.
WRPS was established in 1973 to replace the individual police departments in the region. The cities of Kitchener
Kitchener, Ontario
The City of Kitchener is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada. It was the Town of Berlin from 1854 until 1912 and the City of Berlin from 1912 until 1916. The city had a population of 204,668 in the Canada 2006 Census...
, Waterloo
Waterloo, Ontario
Waterloo is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada. It is the smallest of the three cities in the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, and is adjacent to the city of Kitchener....
and Galt; Towns of Preston
Preston, Ontario
Preston is a community in Cambridge, Ontario, Canada. Prior to its amalgamation with the city of Galt, the town of Hespeler and the village of Blair to form the new city in 1973, it was an independent town. It is located near the confluence of the Grand River and Speed River...
, Hespeler
Hespeler, Ontario
Hespeler is a town and community located in Cambridge, Ontario, Canada on the Speed River.- History :In 1830, Joseph Oberholtzer purchased land along the Speed River. The settlement that followed was to become known as New Hope. In 1845, Jacob Hespeler arrived in New Hope. Hespeler purchased land...
, Elmira
Elmira, Ontario
The town of Elmira in Ontario, Canada is the largest community within the Township of Woolwich in the Regional Municipality of Waterloo and is located 15 km to the north of the city of Waterloo.-History:...
and New Hamburg
New Hamburg, Ontario
New Hamburg is a community of approximately 8,739 in Wilmot Township, a rural township of the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, Ontario...
; the Village of Bridgeport and Waterloo Township had their own respective police department. The Townships of Woolwich
Woolwich, Ontario
The Township of Woolwich is a rural township in Ontario, Canada. It is part of the Region of Waterloo, immediately to the north and east of the City of Waterloo. Its 2006 census population was 19,658.-Communities:*Bloomingdale*Breslau*Conestogo*Elmira...
, Wellesley
Wellesley, Ontario
The Township of Wellesley is the rural, north-western township of the Regional Municipality of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada. It encompasses 277.84 km2 and had a population of 9,789 in the Canada 2006 Census.-Communities:...
, Wilmot
Wilmot, Ontario
The Township of Wilmot is a rural township in the Regional Municipality of Waterloo in southwestern Ontario, Canada. Its 2006 Census population was 17,097.-Communities:*Baden* Mannheim*New Dundee*New Hamburg* Petersburg* Phillipsburg*St...
and North Dumfries
North Dumfries, Ontario
The Township of North Dumfries is a rural township in Ontario, Canada, part of the Region of Waterloo. Its 2006 Census population was 9,063.The township includes the communities of Ayr, Branchton, Clyde, Reidsville and Roseville.-History:...
were under the jurisdiction of the Ontario Provincial Police
Ontario Provincial Police
The Ontario Provincial Police is the Provincial Police service for the province of Ontario, Canada.-Overview:The OPP is the the largest deployed police force in Ontario, and the second largest in Canada. The service is responsible for providing policing services throughout the province in areas...
. In 1991 Waterloo Regional Police Force was renamed with the current name.
Organization
Since December 12, 2007, former Deputy Chief Matt Torigian replaced retiring Chief of PoliceChief of police
A Chief of Police is the title typically given to the top official in the chain of command of a police department, particularly in North America. Alternate titles for this position include Commissioner, Superintendent, and Chief constable...
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 CambridgeCambridge, Ontario
Cambridge is a city located in Southern Ontario at the confluence of the Grand and Speed rivers in the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. It is an amalgamation of the City of Galt, the towns of Preston and Hespeler, and the hamlet of Blair.Galt covers the largest portion of...
and Kitchener
Kitchener, Ontario
The City of Kitchener is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada. It was the Town of Berlin from 1854 until 1912 and the City of Berlin from 1912 until 1916. The city had a population of 204,668 in the Canada 2006 Census...
. 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.
Operational Patrol Divisions
NORTH Formerly Division 3- 14 Erb St W, WaterlooWaterloo, Ontario
Waterloo is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada. It is the smallest of the three cities in the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, and is adjacent to the city of Kitchener....
CENTRAL Formerly Division 1- 134 Frederick St, Kitchener
Kitchener, Ontario
The City of Kitchener is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada. It was the Town of Berlin from 1854 until 1912 and the City of Berlin from 1912 until 1916. The city had a population of 204,668 in the Canada 2006 Census...
SOUTH Formerly Division 2- 176 Hespeler Rd, Cambridge
Cambridge, Ontario
Cambridge is a city located in Southern Ontario at the confluence of the Grand and Speed rivers in the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. It is an amalgamation of the City of Galt, the towns of Preston and Hespeler, and the hamlet of Blair.Galt covers the largest portion of...
RURAL NORTH Formerly Division 3A- 13 Industrial Dr, Elmira
Elmira, Ontario
The town of Elmira in Ontario, Canada is the largest community within the Township of Woolwich in the Regional Municipality of Waterloo and is located 15 km to the north of the city of Waterloo.-History:...
RURAL SOUTH Formerly Division 1A- 34 Peel St, New Hamburg
New Hamburg, Ontario
New Hamburg is a community of approximately 8,739 in Wilmot Township, a rural township of the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, Ontario...
Branches & Divisions
WRPS is made up of:Patrol Divisions
- NORTH Division - Serving the City of Waterloo, and areas of Kitchener not served by Central Division
- CENTRAL Division - Serving the City of Kitchener (East of Victoria Street, south of Belmont Ave to Highland and south of Westmount to Highway 7/8)
- SOUTH Division - Serving the City of Cambridge, and areas of Kitchener (Doon South, Trillium Industrial Park, Parkway, Hidden Valley)
- RURAL NORTH - Serving Woolwich and Wellesley Township
- RURAL SOUTH - Serving Wilmot and North Dumfries Township
All divisions also each have a Criminal Investigations Branch.
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 VictoriaFord Crown Victoria-1992–1994:Released in March 1991 as an early 1992 model, the Crown Victoria sedan was completely redesigned with a rounder, eight-window roofline . The redesign reduced the coefficient of drag from 0.42 to 0.34; the suspension setup was also heavily revised...
Police Interceptor - DodgeDodgeDodge is a United States-based brand of automobiles, minivans, and sport utility vehicles, manufactured and marketed by Chrysler Group LLC in more than 60 different countries and territories worldwide....
Magnum - ChevroletChevroletChevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
Impala - Ford Econoline Van
- GMC Savana
Marked cruisers are white, with hood, trunk lid, front and rear quarter panels and bumpers painted navy blue. The words Waterloo Regional Police appear in white retroreflective text with a navy blue outline. A distinct solid red line curves from the front, through to the rear of the vehicle, with the motto "People Helping People" and "911" on the rear quarter panel. A series of white horizontal stripes appear above and below the curved red stripe. The crest of the police service appears on the rear pillar as well. A Canadian flag in addition to any special designations for the vehicle, such as "Supervisor", "Traffic", "Duty Officer" are displayed on the front fender. On the rear of the cruiser, the text "Waterloo Regional Police" is displayed on the left side of the trunk lid, and the vehicle number and divisional designation (where applicable) on the right side. On the bumper appears the police service website (wrps.on.ca), along with the Crime Stoppers tip-line number encompassed by retroreflective chevrons. Affixed to the roof is a red and blue LED light bar, as well as several antennas for communication and GPS.
The WRPS Traffic Branch also employs a marked "stealth" cars, which features the same markings, except in a retroreflective black-on-black design.
Previously:
- ChevroletChevroletChevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
Caprice Classic and Lumina - DodgeDodgeDodge is a United States-based brand of automobiles, minivans, and sport utility vehicles, manufactured and marketed by Chrysler Group LLC in more than 60 different countries and territories worldwide....
Caravelle
Online Police Scanner
- 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.