2 Military Police Regiment


2 Military Police Regiment is a unit of the Canadian Forces. It provides support to the Canadian Army within the Province of Ontario. It does not provide support to Canadian Forces Bases Borden, Trenton and North Bay and Canadian Forces Support Unit. The unit was initially created in the summer of 2006. Since then, the unit was officially established with the creation of a Ministerial Organization Order and a Canadian Forces Organization Order dated September 24, 2007. It is a "total force" unit of the Land Force Military Police Group. The term "total force" describes a unit which includes both Regular Force and Reserve Force members. 2 MP Regt is responsible for police, security and detention operations as well as police support in field operations. The unit headquarters is located at The George Taylor Denison III Armoury, more commonly known as Denison Armoury, in Toronto, Ontario. The strength of 2 MP Regt totals just under 300 personnel. Since the Transfer of Command Authority on 1 April 2011, 2 MP Regt is under the full command of the Canadian Forces Military Police Group CF MP Gp through the CA MP Gp, and attached Operational Command to the 4th Canadian Division. The unit is commanded by a Major as the Commanding Officer and the unit has a Master Warrant Officer who is the Regimental Sergeant Major. The CO of 2 MP Regt reports directly to the Commander of the Land Force Military Police Group, as well as the Commander of 4 Cdn Div. The CO has a dual function as Commanding Officer and Division Provost Marshal.

Unit background

Recent history

Prior to the existence of 2 MP Regt, members of the Army Reserve Military Police of Ontario were part of 2 Military Police Company formed summer 2003 until April 2006. With Platoons located in London, Toronto and Ottawa, the unit boasted strength around 125 all ranks. During this time, Regular Force members of the Military Police were under command of their local Canadian Forces Base or Area Support Unit. As noted above, Regular Force and Reserve Force members amalgamated into one unit known as 2 MPU 8 April 2006. The Regt was renamed 2 Military Police Regiment on 1 April 2011 during the reorganization of the Canadian Forces Military Police. In the early 2000s and earlier, Regimental Police were assigned police duties within their respective Battalion. Although not specially appointed as peace officers, members of the RP were instrumental in dealing with police related matters. They wore brassards denoting "RP".

Sub-Unit composition

Sub-units are as follows:
Until about the mid-2000s, 2 MP Regt had representation at Canadian Forces Base Petawawa within 2 Royal Canadian Horse Artillery, The Royal Canadian Dragoons and the Royal Canadian Regiment. The same held true in London at Wolseley Barracks when the 1st Battalion - The Royal Canadian Regiment was stationed there. These MP were normally referred to as Battalion Sheriffs, a term used in a somewhat official manner. In each of these locations, the Battalion Sheriffs normally had several Regimental Police working for them. RP were not peace officers and did not have special powers of arrest. Instead, they were members of their respective unit. They would assist MP in their day-to-day work. Similar to MP, RP would wear an RP brassard to identify themselves accordingly.
2 MP Regt has working relations with MP units at CFB Trenton, CFB North Bay, CFB Borden and Canadian Forces Support Unit. They also partner with municipal, regional, provincial and federal police agencies on a routine basis throughout Ontario.

Commanding Officers

The following Officers have commanded 2 MP Regt :
The following personnel have served as Regimental Sergeant Major of 2 MP Regt :
2 MP Regt is one of four Regiments within the CA MP Gp primarily responsible for force generation of Military Police personnel for Expeditionary Operations, which includes the War on Terror in Afghanistan. When deployed, members of 2 MP Regt are tasked to the Joint Task Force Afghanistan Military Police Company. Military Police tasks have varied greatly over successive rotations. Canadian Forces members who serve in Afghanistan are awarded the General Campaign Star. 2 MP Regt was the main force generator for TF 3-08 which deployed in the fall of 2008. 2 MP Regt was the main force generator for Task Force 1-10 which deployed in 2010.
In the summer of 2014, 2 MP Regt will be designated operational ready for Task Force 1-14 and Task Force 2-14. Both are unnamed missions and may or may not deploy. Deployment is dependent on decision by the Government of Canada.
In the spring of 2015, members of the regiment were involved in five separate missions throughout the world, OP CALUMET, OP ADDENDA, OP REASSURANCE, OP IMPACT, and OP RENAISSANCE. This concurrent contribution to international operations is quite unprecedented within the Canadian Forces Military Police Group.

Humanitarian assistance

Members of 2 MP Regt contribute to humanitarian assistance in Canada and abroad through the Immediate Reaction Unit and Disaster Assistance Response Team. The IRU responds to domestic situations in Canada such as floods, forest fires and ice storms, whereas DART responds to disastrous situations throughout the world such as Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines. Most recently, one member of 2 MP Regt was deployed to Nepal to assist with disaster relief as a result of major earthquakes in April 2015 that killed thousands.

Clothing and equipment

Vehicles

2 MP Regt operates the following standard MP vehicles:
Garrison:
Field:
Afghanistan:
Previous field vehicles:
Members of 2 MP Regt normally wear one of two uniforms; Operational Patrol Dress or Canadian Disruptive Pattern. Members of the unit involved in policing duties wear OPD and all others wear CADPAT. During formal events such as parades, members of the unit will wear their Distinct Environmental Uniform. Therefore, even as a member of an Army unit, members will wear the uniform corresponding to their particular environment; Army, Navy or Air Force. In OPD and CADPAT, unit members who are trained as Military Police wear a scarlet beret. In DEU, the head dress of each element is worn instead of the scarlet beret. Introduced in the late 1980s, the scarlet beret is same colour as berets worn by members of the Royal Military Police.
On international operations in Afghanistan, MP wear Arid CADPAT uniforms with the following protective equipment: combat helmet, ballistic eyewear, tactical vest, fragmentation protective vest with bullet resistant plates and beige combat boots. A bayonet mounts to the front of the tactical vest. Optional equipment includes a CamelBak drinking system and the small pack system. The wide brimmed combat hat can be worn within the camp.

Personal weapons

Members of 2 MP Regt mainly use the following personal long and short barrel weapons:
Those involved in garrison policing duties also carry the following for use in the Use of Force continuum:
In Field Platoons, as well as on combat operations, MP carry/use the same weapons as any other member of the Canadian Forces. This includes all the weapons above, as well as, but is not limited to:
For those MP involved in domestic garrison policing, the use of force model governs how much force is used and when. During combat operations, use of force is based on the Rules of Engagement that apply to all other members of the Canadian Forces. ROE complies with the Geneva Conventions.

Recruiting and training

Recruiting

There are two streams for recruiting. The local Canadian Forces Recruiting Centre will process applicants for the Regular Force. They will also provide referrals to the local Reserve Force Platoons, in London, Toronto and Ottawa. Interested persons can join as MP or an MPO.

Training

Regular Force and Reserve Force members of 2 MP Regt receive initial Military Police training at the Canadian Forces Military Police Academy at Canadian Forces Base Borden, Ontario. Non-Commissioned Members attend the Qualification Level 3 Military Police course, and Officers attend the Military Police Officers Course. There are separate Regular Force and Reserve Force courses. Members attending the Reserve Force courses are not awarded credentials upon course completion. It is possible in some instances for Reserve Force members to take training at the Regular Force level.

Internet and intranet sites

2 MP Regt does not have an internet web-site, Facebook or Twitter. Internally, 2 MP Regt maintains a SharePoint site under both 4 Cdn Div and LF MP Gp.

Combat casualties

On April 22, 2006, Corporal Matthew Dinning of 2 Military Police Platoon was killed in action, along with three other members of the Canadian Armed Forces, when their G-Wagen struck an Improvised Explosive Device north of Kandahar Afghanistan. The Silvia Pecota print "Fallen Comrades " has the date 22-04-06 inscribed on the helmet band. In September 2006, Corporal Dinning's memory was added to the Honour Roll at the Canadian Police and Peace Officers Memorial at Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario. His name and date of death are inscribed on panel 25. In 2014, a bridge on highway 21 spanning Clark Creek in Huron County was dedicated to Corporal Dinning and is marked with signs at each end of a bridge. In 2015, Corporal Dinning's name was inscribed on the Ontario Police Memorial in Toronto, Ontario.
On the Highway of Heroes from CFB Trenton to the Coroner's Office in Toronto, Ontario, 2 Military Police Regiment provides escort duties to the motorcade of fallen Canadian Armed Forces personnel, ordinarily occupying the second vehicle in the order of march. The Ontario Provincial Police is the lead vehicle, with Trenton MP being the second last vehicle, with the OPP being the last vehicle.

Notable Toronto area events

Members of 2 MP Regt have been involved in the following high-profile events in Toronto and surrounding areas:
Members of 2 MP Regt raise funds for the Military Police Fund for Blind Children, a registered charity in Canada. Annually in December, members from London and Toronto visit the W. Ross MacDonald School in Brantford, delivering presents to children. 2 MP Regt participates annually in the Canadian Police and Peace Officer Memorial on the last Sunday of September. As 2 MP Regt is dispersed throughout Ontario, Remembrance Day services are attended in the local area. Members have attended services in Wingham, Gananoque and Haliburton Ontario.

Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel and senate

The following have served as the Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel of 2 MP Regt:
Members of the Senate are mostly retired police and/or military members. The Senate meets on a regular basis, normally in the Toronto area. Members are staunch advocates of members of the regiment. Senate members are eager to attend 2 MP Regt training and other events throughout the year, where they have opportunity to speak to regimental members one on one.

Armoury