This statistic shows the total number of Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officers in Canada in 2019, distinguished by level of policing and province. In 2019, there were 5,972 Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers acting in contract policing positions in British Columbia.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) was founded in 1920 by the joining of the Dominion Police (a federal police force in the eastern part of Canada) and the Northwest Mounted Police (established to police the newly acquired Northwest Territories). The distinctive red colored dress uniform of the RCMP, popularly referred to as Red Serge, was adopted from the Northwest Mounted Police and was styled in order to reflect the British character of the police force. The image and name of the RCMP was trademarked in 1995 with the intended purpose of preserving the image and reputation of the force. Proceeds from royalties collected are used to fund community initiative projects across Canada.
Today, the RCMP serves as Canada’s federal police force, as well being the sole police force in the territories. In addition, all provinces, except for Ontario and Quebec, contract out their policing needs to the RCMP. Similarly, the RCMP provides policing for many municipalities and aboriginal communities. There were
30,092 active personnel in the RCMP in 2019, of which roughly 19,000 were police officers. All told, RCMP personnel made up roughly 30 percent of
personnel in police service in Canada in 2018. The RCMP enjoys the highest public approval rating of members of the criminal justice system, with
67 percent of the public professing confidence in the organization.