The Dominion Police Force was the federal police force of Canada between 1868 and 1920, and was one of the predecessors of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. It was the first federal police force in Canada, formed the year following the Canadian Confederation to enforce federal laws and perform policing duties for the Federal Government of Canada. On 1 February 1920, the Dominion Police was merged with the Royal North-West Mounted Police to form the Royal Canadian Mounted Police as the new federal police force of Canada.
keeping the peace for specified railways and canals that were under construction when the Public Works Peace Preservation Act, 1869 was brought into force.[6]
InOntario, commissioners of the Dominion Police were vested with the same powers as police magistrates and justices of the peace in the province, and constables had the same status as those appointed under provincial law.[8] The Dominion Police informally handled some provincial-level policing duties in rural Ontario until the creation of the Ontario Provincial Police in 1909.
In May 1918, the Dominion Police were reassigned to the Department of Militia and Defence and became a civilian wing of the Canadian Military Police Corps (CMPC).[9] In the early 1900s, the Royal North-West Mounted Police had declined as the North-West Territories was divided into new provinces and territories, and due to the general unpopularity of the force for conduct during industrial disputes such as the Winnipeg General Strike. On 1 February 1920, the civilian members of the CMPC, including the Dominion Police, were merged with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police,[c] and the CMPC was disbanded on 1 December 1920.[9]
The Dominion Police consisted of Commissioners and constables appointed for that purpose, and its authority extended over the provinces and all parts of the territories not patrolled by the RNWMP. The organization was decentralized, with many Commissioners being appointed with either provincial or national responsibility, and it had two national co-commissioners until 1876. The national Commissioner also acted as the Commissioner of the Montreal Water Police, which reported separately to the Minister of the Marine and Fisheries.[d] Although formed under different statutory authority,[e] its constables were appointed as police officers under the 1868 Act.[12]
The commissioners that had responsibility for all of Canada were:
From 1913, while Sherwood was the commissioner responsible for all of Canada, the title for this senior commissioner role was adjusted to Chief Commissioner, to whom all regional or departmental commissioners reported.
Williams, David Ricardo (1998). "7: Dominion Police". Call in Pinkerton's: American Detectives at Work for Canada. Toronto: Dundurn Press. pp. 115–134. ISBN1-55002-306-3.
Canada
