Summary
The following paper offers a descriptive analysis of baseline data regarding an overlooked trend in Canadian policing: the growth in number and shift in character of police tactical units (PTU's). A survey of all police departments with fifty sworn officers or more provides the first comprehensive national data on PTUs in Canada. Findings document a rise in the number of PTUs, an escalation in their level of activity, a normalization of these units into mainstream policing and a direct link between Canadian and American PTU's as well as the Canadian Armed Forces. These findings are similar to trends in the United States suggesting that behind the rhetoric of democratic reforms such as community and problem-oriented policing, we are seeing the rise of tactical law enforcement.