[1] As a railway police service, the agency is under the purview of the Department of Transport Canada.

As indicated under Canada's federal Railway Safety Act, VIA Rail police constables are appointed by a judge of a superior court for the enforcement of the laws of Canada or a province in so far as their enforcement relates to the protection of property owned, possessed or administered by VIA Rail Canada and for the protection of persons and property on their property.

VIA Rail Police also undertake a collaborative approach with various law enforcement and community partners to educate the general public, including many young people at schools, on topics related to rail safety in an effort to reduce track-level incidents.

On March 20, 2015, Chiheb Esseghaier and Raed Jaser were sentenced to life in prison for conspiring to commit murder for a terrorist group following a conspiracy to derail a train route operated by Amtrak and VIA Rail Canada, known as the Maple Leaf, running between Toronto and New York City.

These police dogs can quickly screen and track the trail of a scent through large crowds of people.