As of 2021, the service employed 829 sworn officers and 414 non-sworn staff, serving a population of about 570 000 residents.

On March 11 of that year, High Bailiff John Ryckman was appointed as Hamilton's first police officer.

[3] In 1848, neighbouring Dundas raised its own municipal police force, followed two years later by Ancaster.

[5] When Alexander passed in 2012, his casket was carried by members of the Hamilton Police Honour Guard.

[6] The Hamilton Police Service coat of arms and colours, standards and guidons were granted by the Canadian Heraldic Authority (created by Her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth II on the recommendation of His Excellency the Governor General of Canada) November 15, 2007.

The police service has the responsibility of upholding the peace and the administration of justice under the Canadian Crown.

[8] As of 2024, it consisted of: In addition to maintaining the Hamilton Police Service, the Board is responsible for approving and overseeing special constabularies that operate in the City.

Currently, there is only one special constabulary operating in the City of Hamilton that falls under the jurisdiction of the Board, the McMaster University Campus Security Service.

[13] As of 2023, the Team is deployed across the City of Hamilton in response to safety concerns or crime spikes, and conducts patrols on foot or by bicycle.

[citation needed] Civil unrest throughout the world had the police service question its ability to deal with large-scale chaos.

The auxiliary police are required to go through various training seminars, as well as maintain a high degree of physical fitness.

Bob was not trained for special tasks, but often acted as a deterrent to those who had the potential to create trouble.

[citation needed] In 1960 the Hamilton Police Department acquired two dogs with the intent of training them for special circumstances.

Due to their keen senses, dogs were trained to track suspects or missing persons, search buildings, and to locate weapons and bombs.

[18] The Crisis Support & Outreach Team (COAST) is a partnership between the Hamilton Police Service, Halton Regional Police Service, and St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, and serves residents in need of long-term mental health supports.

[19] Like COAST, the Mobile Crisis Rapid Response Team is a partnership between the Hamilton Police Service, Halton Regional Police Service, and St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, and is responsible for responding to urgent crisis calls made to 9-1-1 between the hours of 8 AM and 4 AM, seven days a week.

[20] The teams consist of a uniformed, specially-trained officer and a mental health professional responding together in a marked police cruiser.

[citation needed] This incident was a catalyst for the Hamilton Police Service to form a specialized unit.

On November 8, 1975, a decision was made by Chief Torrance to form a tactical unit that would begin training in January 1976.

[citation needed] The mandate of the TEAM was to attain a peaceful ending to police calls involving hostage-taking, gun and other weapon-related incidents.

Five TEAM officers were initially sent to the Anti-Sniper and Survival School at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia.

They also took on the responsibility of explosives disposal (EDU) and received this training through the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

ERU members are trained to handle a variety of weapons, deal with dangerous, high-risk situations, and are utilized when entering a premises for the execution of search warrants.

This agreement was terminated in 2008, and the Halton Regional Police moved its marine unit to the Bronte Harbour.

[citation needed] Today, the Unit is responsible for patrolling the Hamilton Harbour, the entirety of the City's waterfront, and all inland waterways.

In 2011, the Unit, with assistance from the Halton Regional Police, rescued a group of high-school rowers caught in a freak storm.

[24] Five Hamilton Police officers received the Rescue of the Year award from the Canadian Safe Boating Council for their work.

The emergency response unit (ERU) members are issued Glock handguns with 9 mm calibre ammunition.