NCJ Number
201617
Date Published
2003
Length
2 pages
Annotation
This article describes how liaison officers connect police at home in Canada and around the world.
Abstract
Today, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has 35 liaison officers (LOs) stationed in more than 20 countries around the world to provide a direct link between Canada and the international police community. These officers handle two types of requests: LOs assist Canadian agencies in foreign countries track key information concerning everything from drug investigations to international kidnappings and cases of missing persons; and foreign authorities working on a particular case will rely on a liaison officer to make inquiries on their behalf in Canada. The liaison role is about building trusted relationships that will assist Canada and its international law enforcement partners in their mutual interests abroad. The areas of responsibility for LOs are divided into three geographic regions: the European Region, the Asia-Pacific Region, and the Western Region. Officers are selected for the positions based on a number of criteria including language requirements and investigative experience. LOs receive their training in joint sessions and security briefings with the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade to familiarize themselves and their families with a chosen country. LOs are typically posted to a foreign country for two to three years, however, they can apply for extensions.