How To Become A Detective In Ontario (2024)

Working as a detective comes with various levels of risk, and the ability to perform in threatening situations will be critical to succeeding in the role. Nonetheless, it is a rewarding career with lots of prospects and personal growth.

To become a detective in Ontario, first, you have to become a police officer, graduate from the police academy, and hold a law enforcement certification.

You can become a detective only if you are currently working for a police department. If you are a private detective looking for a new job, you will have to contact police departments to find out what their requirements are for new hires or transfers, and you must have a certain amount of recent work experience as a police officer.

How To Become A Detective In Ontario

If you want to work as a detective, you will have to earn your bachelor’s degree in a detective-related field. Typically, intending detectives will earn bachelor’s or master’s degrees in criminal justice, which will help open more career prospects, increase the annual pay, and speed up chances of getting promoted. You can enter the academy and police force while undertaking undergraduate courses,

You should also gain admission into a police academy, and train for six months or a year. The training offered by the police academy is a combination of in-person, practical, and physical learning. You will be taught how to use firearms, obey Provincial and national laws, de-escalate uproars or intended crimes, conflict handling and management, effective First Aid, emergency vehicle operations, investigative skills, department procedures, and other useful skills.

After applying to the police force, you will need to meet the requisite ocular vision standards and be physically able to perform the duties of your proposed position, without putting yourself and the general public in harm’s way.

You will also be required to verify that you’re a Canadian citizen or possess the documentation to practice as a detective in Ontario, pass a written and physical examination, and must have Standard First Aid and Level C in CPR training.

Some of the duties you will perform as a detective are:

  1. Collection of evidence from crime and fight scenes.
  2. Submission of evaluations and reports to forensic teams.
  3. Securing crime scenes for investigation, evidence collection, questioning witnesses and suspects.
  4. Carrying out proper documentation for records and safekeeping purposes.
  5. Attending criminal court cases to testify and submit crime evidence.
  6. Carrying out patrol activities, emergency, and routine tasks.
  7. You will be required to work alongside crime scene investigators (CSIs), to comb crime scenes for clues, and evidence.

What Skills Do I Need To Become A Detective?

You need more than the typical no guts, no glory skills portrayed in movies. To be a detective you need:

  1. Research abilities. You will have to gather information about a problem by brainstorming with other team members, consulting more experienced colleagues, or acquiring knowledge through online research or courses.
  2. A balance between logic and creativity. You will have to use your creativity to find the cause of a current issue. Your creativity is also required to bring unique perspectives, give a new direction to a problem, and develop new solutions.
  3. Analytical skills. You will need it to understand problems and effectively develop solutions, improve research by helping you distinguish between effective and ineffective problem solutions.
  4. You will need to decide how to solve problems, either by taking some time to craft a solution, or escalating the issue to someone more capable of solving it.
  5. When identifying probable solutions, you will need to know how and when to communicate the problem to others. You will also require knowledge of the appropriate communication channels to use when seeking assistance.
  6. Paying attention to detail. As a detective, you must notice every detail. You will need this skill when investigating crime scenes and interviewing witnesses, to get clues towards solving the crime.
  7. As a detective, you need basic computer skills especially when you need to generate reports, conduct research, and manage case files. If your departments also have proprietary software, you may need to learn how to use it.
  8. It’s important to have ethics and morals, as a detective. You should be willing to work and commit to the ethical values of the nation and department.

Where Can I Work As A Detective In Ontario?

You can be hired by businesses, individuals, and even the government to hunt down crucial information, and solve crimes.

As a detective, you can decide to work for a public or private organization, or go solo. To work as a private detective or open your private practice, you will need a degree in criminal justice.

How Much Can I Earn As A Detective In Ontario?

You can earn as high as $79,395 a year, or $38 an hour as a detective working in Ontario.

The average salary range for detectives is proposed to be between $57,589 and $97,571, and you earn about $150,000 working as a private detective (though this will require some years of experience, and skills).

Related:

How Long Does It Take To Be A Detective In Ontario?

To become a public detective in Ontario, you need to first graduate out of high school and join the police academy, for rigorous six-month training.

Getting your training done in a recognized academy is one of the criteria needed to get work as a detective, or earn a promotion.

It takes approximately two years to get an associate’s degree, and four years for a bachelor’s degree in criminology or some related field.

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