If youSA国际影视传媒檙e a Yellowknifer who often drives or walks around the city, youSA国际影视传媒檝e likely spotted an eye-catching addition to the capitalSA国际影视传媒檚 roadways in recent months.

With a red and white paint job and SA国际影视传媒減oliceSA国际影视传媒� scrawled across its side, the hard-to-miss vehicle almost looks like it belongs to the SA国际影视传媒檚 fleet, but its federally-issued, non-polar bear shaped licence plates say otherwise.

So what is this vehicle all about? And what is it doing when you see it out on the road on your way to work?

The vehicles are driven by members of CanadaSA国际影视传媒檚 military police SA国际影视传媒� one of the largest police forces in the country.

Military police oversee the enforcement of laws on Canada Armed Forces (CAF) establishments across the country and throughout the world SA国际影视传媒� including embassies abroad.

That includes enforcing laws and regulations at the Joint Task Force (North) headquarters in Yellowknife, one of six regional CAF task forces located strategically in key locations across the country.

Capt. Gary Counsell, Joint Task Force North Provost Marshal, is one of four military police officers in Yellowknife. Counsell is in charge of overseeing the policing duties of the three other members.

He was posted to Yellowknife from Toronto last year.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檝e had conversations with people here in Yellowknife since I got here at the end of July, and they really didnSA国际影视传媒檛 know military police were stationed here in Yellowknife,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

Counsell chalks that up to the fact that the military police vehicle didnSA国际影视传媒檛 hit the streets of Yellowknife until November of last year, meaning the force wasn't as visible, save the presence of members who can often be seen walking downtown in their colourful fatigues.

Officers sporting a red beret have passed basic training, while those wearing green berets are still trainees.

According to Counsell, who wears multiple proverbial hats as the Force Protection Officer at JTFN as well as the Military Police Regiment Detachment Commander for Yellowknife, the bulk of the forceSA国际影视传媒檚 day-to-day duties in Yellowknife can be broken down into a handful of mandated priorities: proactive policing; conducting investigations; and security support.

Proactive policing, said Counsell, means getting out and making themselves visible to military members.

SA国际影视传媒淲e have properties all throughout Yellowknife and we try to get out to them everyday, just to see whatSA国际影视传媒檚 going on, talk to people and just let them know weSA国际影视传媒檙e there,SA国际影视传媒� said Counsell.

He added that the proactive approach to policing also increases military police members' visibility for the general public.

The force, which works closely with Yellowknife and NWT , also fulfills certain security duties. For example, military police members recently offered support during the citySA国际影视传媒檚 D-Day parade, ensuring the safety and security of military personnel. Military Police also work with the citySA国际影视传媒檚 Municipal Enforcement Division (MED).

If Yellowknifers spot the military police vehicle with its lights flashing and sirens wailing, by and large, theySA国际影视传媒檙e dealing with activated intrusion alarms at military properties across the city.

Investigations typically involve SA国际影视传媒渆ither military personnel, military vehicles, military property and equipment,SA国际影视传媒� said Counsell.

Investigations by military police focus on low-level issues - such as a damaged military vehicle - but can "certainly be a lot more serious, too,SA国际影视传媒� said Counsell.

SA国际影视传媒淒epending on circumstances we look at it and say SA国际影视传媒榓re we going to handle it in the military justice system SA国际影视传媒� which would be National Defence Act-related SA国际影视传媒� or do we look at the civilian justice system, related to the Criminal Code,SA国际影视传媒� said Counsell.

SA国际影视传媒淏ut really what ISA国际影视传媒檝e seen in my almost year up here has been that weSA国际影视传媒檝e handled it through the military justice system,SA国际影视传媒� he added.

While military police functions are generally limited to a military scope, the force does have the authority to step in SA国际影视传媒渆xtreme circumstances,SA国际影视传媒� when a civilian is facing the risk of bodily harm or death. That extends to impaired driving as well.

Military police members driving vehicles around town are equipped with a pistol, oleoresin capsicum (the active ingredient in SA国际影视传媒減epper spray) and an expandable baton. The force also intends to soon equip its vehicles with carbine rifles SA国际影视传媒� like the ones carried inside vehicles.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e kind of niche,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淥f the 292 military in the North, thereSA国际影视传媒檚 four of us. So weSA国际影视传媒檙e a very small piece of that, but I like to think weSA国际影视传媒檙e a valuable piece,SA国际影视传媒� said Counsell.