YRP was formed in 1971 from the police forces maintained by the nine municipalities which amalgamated into York Region at the time.

The administration and senior command are based at York Regional Police Headquarters in Aurora, Ontario.

The resource includes a 10,000 square foot replica town with crosswalks, functioning traffic lighting and signals.

Usually the resource is utilized by local schools, however, several family events are held at the location yearly.

The marine unit consists of 11 full-time members and patrols the southern shoreline of Lake Simcoe and other York Region waterways.

The York Regional Police are one of two forces in the greater Toronto area with an active air support unit (Durham is the other).

Other fleet numbering patterns include: Marked cruisers are labelled with the motto "Deeds Speak".

Three of the YRP's boats were named by Elder Barbara McDonald of the Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation.

[17] Front line officers are dressed in dark blue (shirts, cargo pants (with red stripe) and boots), standard in most municipal police services in Ontario.

The uniform patch consist of the force's crest with wording "York Regional Police" on a black tombstone shape.

Auxiliary members wear the same uniform; lack of weapons, different shoulder patch and different hat band (black and red Sillitoe tartan) distinguish them from front line officers.

The unit's primary mandate is to deal with high-risk situations beyond the safe operating limits of police officers with their normal equipment and training.

Various operational obligations including the fatal shooting of an armed suspect by the ERU during a hostage rescue in Richmond Hill highlighted the need for additional members.

The ERU is regularly involved in high-risk search warrant services within the York Region and the Greater Toronto Area as well as a number of high-profile joint forces operations within Ontario.

The York Regional Police ERU conduct their own strenuous selection process, with the applicants mainly being from the departments' uniformed divisions.

The unit also trains its own candidates in most required disciplines and is one of the founding members of the Ontario Tactical Advisory Body (OTAB).

At that time, the traffic bureau worked out of offices located at 200 Industrial Parkway South in the Town of Aurora.

On December 15, 2003, York Regional Police's collision reconstruction unit investigated a collision on Rutherford Road west of Pine Valley Drive in the City of Vaughan that killed former NHL Chicago Black Hawks player Keith Magnuson.

Special computerized ticket writing units are utilized in police vehicles to ensure there are no human errors.

Members use unmarked vehicles and conduct surveillance on suspects' home and court to catch violators.

[32] The band represents the police force at a variety of events where appropriate, including parades and community functions.