The Greater Sudbury Police Service is participating in the International Peace Operations Program. Two Sudbury officers have been deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan as police advisors with the Canadian Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT). The PRT is a combined military-civilian reconstruction operation. The purpose of the civilian police deployment to the PRT is to assist in building the capacity of the Afghan National Police.  Civilian police working as part of the PRT are establishing relationships and serve as a focal point between the PRT and the local police.

The International Peace Operations Branch of the RCMP manages the deployment of officers from the RCMP, provincial and municipal police agencies in support of international peacekeeping activities hosted by the United Nations and other international organizations. 

Afghanistan is one of Canada’s foremost international security priorities. Along with 36 other nations, Canada is in Afghanistan at the request of the democratically elected government as part of a UN-sanctioned mission to help build a stable, democratic and self-sufficient society. Canadian police are in Afghanistan through the Canadian Police Arrangement – a partnership between the RCMP, the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Public Safety Canada, and the Canadian International Development Agency.

Chief Ian Davidson issued an internal posting seeking applications from interested officers. Two highly qualified officers were approved for the mission.  Both officers have been deployed with the Canadian PRT in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan. This brings Canada’s contribution of civilian police in Afghanistan to 14 – 10 assigned to the PRT and 4 police advisors in Kabul. 

All deployments in support of International Peace Operations are on a voluntary basis. Police officers apply through their respective services and submit to rigorous selection criterion that consists of physical, medical, and psychological tests established and administered by the RCMP International Peace Operations Branch. Once selected, the officers participate in pre-deployment training in Ottawa.

Chief Davidson stated, “I am pleased that our police service can assist with this very important initiative.  Canadian police officers are highly regarded worldwide and have much expertise to provide to the Afghanistan police. I am very proud of the two officers that volunteered for this mission.  I know they will positively influence their colleagues in Afghanistan in a highly professional and compassionate manner. Canadian police officers are making a difference around the world and will continue to do so in Afghanistan.”

Dave Petryna, former Chair of the Police Services Board said, “We have some of the most knowledgeable and experienced police officers that Canada has to offer, and this mission provides us with an opportunity to share our resources with a country that is looking to know the peace that we know.  We look forward to working with the many other police services who have participated in missions such as this around the world.” 

The Police Services Board is being fully reimbursed for the salaries of the two participating officers and will immediately replace these officers while deployed.