Emergency Services Rank Insignia

[mariomike]

I think that, of all time in the Commonwealth, it was tradition for police forces to model themselves on the military rank symbols of the time, to denote their "para-military" view of themselves (the"Thin Blue Line"). Of course this military ancestry is historically even more correct for the RCMP.

Thus, most large Canadian police forces use the "british" style of pips and crowns, even to this day. Interestingly enough, the exception is Québec: about 25 years ago the uniforms of the large police forces (Montreal, Quebec , QPP) went through a major redesign and upgrade. As a result, they incorporated the current Canadian military practice of the time and ended up adopting our current "bars" system.

A sergeant-detective wears the half-stripe, a sergeant a full-stripe, lieutenant-detective one-and-a-half, a lieutenant two, a commander two-and-a-half, inspector three, chief inspector four, and the various grades of directors wear the "generals" one two or three fleur-de-lys in lieu of the maple leafs - for obvious reasons.

Saw the above today in another forum. Rank insignia for Emergency Services across Canada might make an interesting topic.

Top attached pic is TPS.

T-EMS:
1 Silver Stripe - PCP
2 Silver Stripe - ACP
3 Silver Stripe - CCP
Silver "T" + stripes - Field Training Officer ( FTO )
2 Gold Maple Leaf - Acting Superintendent
3 Gold Maple Leaf - Superintendent
1 Gold Crown - Deputy Commander
1 Gold Maple Leaf and Crown - Commander
2 Gold Maple Leaf and Crown - Deputy Chief
3 Gold Maple Leaf and Crown - Chief
http://www.carletonuniforms.com/FCKeditor/editor/imageGallery/EMS_Ontario_Slip-ons.jpg

TFS:
Captain 2 silver stripes
District Chief 2 gold stripes
Platoon Chief 3 gold stripes
Division Commander 3 thick and 1 thin gold stripes
Deputy Chief 4 gold stripes
Chief 5 gold stripes.

Second pic is Years of Service insignia for the three services. One for every five years of completed service with your department. To be worn on the lower-left sleeve. TPS uses the Maple Leaf, TFS Maltese Cross, and T-EMS ( shown ) the Caduceus.

 

[Privateer]

Here is the system for municipal police forces in BC, as per the provincial regulation.  (There is no provincial police force, and of course it does not apply to the RCMP).

Insignia

7 (1)  The following ranks shall wear on their shoulder straps the insignia described as follows:
  (a) chief constable — a single crown above 3 pips, in gold;
  (b) deputy chief constable — a single crown above 2 pips, in gold;
  (c) superintendent — a single crown above a single pip, in silver;
  (d) staff inspector — a single crown, in silver;
  (e) inspector — 3 pips, in silver.

(2)  The following ranks shall wear on the upper part of each sleeve the following cloth insignia:
  (a) staff sergeant — 3 chevrons and a crown;
  (b) sergeant — 3 chevrons;
  (c) corporal — 2 chevrons.

All chevrons will be silver on black.

(3)  The following ranks shall wear, on their jacket lapels, badges depicting the municipal crest or maple leaf; gold for executive officers and silver for other ranks:

(a) chief constable;

(b) deputy chief constable;

(c) superintendent;

(d) staff inspector;

(e) inspector;

(f) staff sergeant;

(g) sergeant;

(h) corporal.

(4)  Cloth shoulder flashes identifying the municipal force shall be worn on all garments except rainwear; gold for executive officers and silver for all other ranks.

(5)  Design and placement of special badges awarded for special reasons such as dog handler, marksman, etc., shall be subject to the approval of the commission.

(6)  (a) Service badges awarded on the basis of one for each 5 years of service shall be a cloth, 5 pointed star, silver, not larger than 3/4 inch in size, worn on the lower sleeve of the left arm.

(b) A long service ribbon and bar may be worn in place of service badges.