Alternate Retirement Option (ARO)

Continue Your Career in Policing — On Your Terms

Are you an experienced police officer nearing retirement or eligible to retire within the next four years? Do you want to continue working as a police officer without switching agencies or pursuing contract work?

Surrey Police Service (SPS) is offering a unique Alternate Retirement Option (ARO) that allows you to extend your career while maximizing your financial and professional benefits.

 

What is ARO?

ARO offers eligible police officers the opportunity to:

  • join SPS before retirement,
  • retire and begin collecting your MPP Group 5 Pension on your pension commencement date,
  • continue working for SPS as a sworn, full-time, unionized officer, and
  • receive full salary, benefits, and an additional pension-equivalent premium from SPS.

This program allows you to continue serving while being rewarded for your experience—without having to work on contract or outside the province.
 

Eligibility criteria

To qualify for ARO, you must:

  • join SPS before December 2025,
  • be eligible for an unreduced MPP Group 5 Pension by March 31, 2029, and
  • have at least 15 years of contributory MPP Group 5 Pension service at the time of retirement.
     

Compensation and benefits

  • Premium pay:
    If you’re a senior Constable or Corporal with a minimum of 15 years of service, you’ll earn 115% of the First-Class Constable hourly rate:
    • $154,316/year (15 years of service)
    • $161,330/year (20+ years of service)
      Includes the 14.67% ARO premium
       
  • Already collecting your pension?
    If you are retired and receiving your MPP pension, you’ll also receive an additional 14.67% ARO premium in lieu of SPS's MPP contributions.
  • Full unionized position:
    ARO officers are regular SPS members with access to promotions, specialty assignments, and all internal opportunities.
  • Comprehensive benefits:
    • Extended health and dental coverage
    • Paid leave entitlements (pro-rated for partial years):
      • 240 hours of annual leave
      • 40 hours of wellness leave
      • 130 hours of statutory leave
      • 40 hours of supplementary annual leave
         

How ARO works

  • You retire from your current agency and start collecting your MPP pension.
  • You begin working at SPS as a regular sworn officer on your pension commencement date.
  • You stop contributing to MPP, and SPS pays you an additional 14.67% ARO premium in recognition of its typical pension contributions.
  • If you've already retired and are collecting MPP, you're still eligible for ARO—pending successful hiring by SPS.
     

Interested?

Apply today or contact our recruiting team at careers@surreypolice.ca to learn more about the ARO program.

 

Cindy Vance

Sgt. Cindy Vance

After 28 years of policing, I felt that I still had a lot to give. I’m passionate about this profession and I’m glad I was given the opportunity to bring my skills and experience to SPS to help build this new police service.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Are there rules/restrictions for ARO?

Yes, to qualify for ARO you must meet the following minimum eligibility requirements:

  • Join SPS before December 31, 2025
  • Be eligible for an unreduced MPP Group 5 Pension before March 31, 2029
  • Have a minimum of 15 years of contributory service to MPP Group 5 when you retire
  • Be an active SPS officer in good standing when you apply to and are accepted for ARO

How does receiving ARO impact my employment with SPS?

Your pay, benefits, date in policing, seniority, leave entitlements, and tenure eligibility do not change on ARO. However, once you retire under ARO, you stop contributing to MPP (employee contribution) and we do not contribute on your behalf (employer contribution), which means you stop accruing benefits in MPP. Instead, SPS will pay you a premium on eligible hours worked that is equivalent to SPS’s employer contribution to MPP on your behalf.

I don’t currently work for an MPP Group 5 Employer (I am with the RCMP or from out of province). Can I still qualify for ARO?

You may or may not qualify. ARO requires a minimum of 15 years of contributory pension service in MPP Group 5. Certain police agencies, including the RCMP, have a transfer agreement with MPP (view MPP’s pension transfer agreement list). If you transfer your pension to MPP Group 5 and meet the other qualifications, you may be eligible for ARO. Please contact MPP for information on transfers.

What is a Pension Commencement Date?

Your Pension Commencement Date is a day that you select to start receiving your pension. You select this date when you submit your pension application to MPP.  It is important that you select the first day of the month after your retirement as your Pension Commencement Date.

Note: This is not applicable if you have already retired from your previous police agency and are already collecting your MPP pension.

How do I know if I meet ARO’s eligibility requirements relating to MPP?

Your MPP pension status is available on MPP’s My Account site www.mpp.pensionsbc.ca. SPS takes no responsibility for your MPP Group 5 eligibility or any impact ARO may have on your pension plan eligibility or amount. Your best source of pension information is MPP.

Is MPP aware of ARO?

Yes. MPP has been provided with information on ARO.

What are the other benefits of joining SPS as an experienced officer?

From state-of-the-art training, to one of the top policing salaries in Canda, to a modern shift schedule, SPS is working hard to redefine policing for its officers. Learn more at www.surreypolice.ca/experienced-officers.

Questions?

For more information on the Alternate Retirement Option, please email careers@surreypolice.ca or call us at 604-591-4084.