In the late 1940s, policing functions were reorganized in Ontario, with the O.P.P. given responsibility for all law enforcement in the Province outside areas covered by municipal police forces, together with overall authority for law enforcement on the King's Highways, enforcement of the provincial liquor laws, aiding the local police and maintaining a criminal investigation branch.[1] The Ontario Provincial Police is responsible for providing policing services over one million square kilometres of land and 174,000 km2 of water to a population of 2.3 million people (3.6 million in the summer months). The O.P.P. has over 6,100 uniformed, 850 auxiliary and 2,700 civilian personnel(2010).[2] The vehicle fleet consists of 2,290 vehicles, 114 marine vessels, 286 snow and all-terrain vehicles, two helicopters and two fixed-wing aircraft. Rank Structure within the OPP is paramilitary or quasi-military in nature, with several "non-commissioned" ranks leading to the "officer" ranks. OPP officers are armed with a SIG Sauer P226 full-sized, service-type pistol, a Remington 870 pump-action shotgun, the [[ARWEN 37], a non-lethal launcher which fires 37 mm non-lethal rounds (foam or wooden or tear gas), the Taser X26, and the CQB Close Quarter Battle combat rifle—variant of Colt Canada C8 rifle.

  1. ^ The Police Act, 1946, S.O. 1946, c. 72, s. 3 , later replaced by The Police Act, 1949, S.O. 1949, c. 72
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference PBP was invoked but never defined (see the help page).