Kingston’s new Special Constable Appointment Strategy aims to improve community safety and enforcement responses

As Kingston grows and changes, so does its need to address the most pressing community safety concerns. In response to increasing public safety demands, response pressures faced by Kingston Police and complex encampment enforcement situations, the City will pursue the appointment of five senior Licensing and Enforcement officials as special constables. Special constables would not replace police officers but rather would enable more timely and safe responses to incidents on City property.

The first step in this evolution is applying to the Solicitor General for authorization to employ special constables and then, if the Solicitor General grants that authorization, to ask the Kingston Police Service Board to appoint the five enforcement management staff as special constables.

The report to Council which details the framework is available online and will be considered and voted on by Council on Tuesday, June 17.

Special constables would be appointed by the Kingston Police Service Board and be employed directly by the City, with these roles embedded into its existing municipal structure to allow for clearer command, oversight, and alignment with its enforcement priorities. Special constables would exercise most of their police powers under the direction of a police officer and, where the Special Constable has arrested or detained a person, the special constable would promptly transfer responsibility for the person to a Kingston Police officer.

The City expects approvals, partnerships and training of special constables to be in completed by the end of 2025.

The City’s proactive approach to educating the community about bylaws and ensuring compliance is central to Kingston being a safe and clean place to work, live and play. To learn more about Bylaw Enforcement in Kingston, visit our website.