The massive scale of Canada's second-largest police force

Countries & Cities · Published 15 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: With a budget nearing $1.4 billion and over 9,000 personnel, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is a policing titan. From patrolling vast waterways to managing complex multi-jurisdictional crimes, its reach defines public safety across the province.

The OPP serves as the primary provincial police service for Ontario, operating under the Ministry of the Solicitor General. It holds a unique dual mandate: it provides policing services to the provincial government—protecting officials and patrolling highways and waterways—while also serving municipalities and First Nations through various contracts. This allows the force to act as a local police body in areas where independent municipal forces do not exist, while simultaneously handling high-level investigations like organized crime and firearms licensing.

Over 6,100 uniformed officers, plus 500 auxiliary staff and 2,800 civilians, comprised the workforce of this large entity during 2023. Ranking as Ontario's premier police force, it sits behind just the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in size across Canada. To manage this vast operation, the force is organized into five commands, including specific bureaus for Traffic Safety, Field Operations, Investigations, Corporate Services, and Culture and Strategy.

The OPP's history reflects a transition from localized policing to a centralized provincial authority. While a 'police system' was provisioned in 1792, it wasn't until the late 19th century that jurisdiction began to expand beyond townships. The formal establishment of the Ontario Provincial Police Force occurred on October 13, 1909, primarily to address lawlessness during gold and silver rushes in northern Ontario. Today, its headquarters is located in Orillia, a move intended to decentralize operations from its previous long-term home in Toronto.

Training for the OPP is notably rigorous, requiring the longest training period among Ontario police services due to mandatory sessions at both the Provincial Police Academy and the Ontario Police College. Even auxiliary members—volunteers who lack standard police authority but can be granted it during emergencies—undergo specialized training at the Provincial Police Academy in use of force options.

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