The journey to graduation for the Grande Prairie Police Service’s inaugural recruitment class included class time with Lethbridge Polytechnic instructors.
For the 12 GPPS recruits to graduate they needed to complete a six-month training program and earn a certificate in Police Cadet Training after completing Lethbridge Polytechnic’s Police Cadet Training program. Dean of Lethbridge Polytechnic’s Centre for Justice and Human Services Trudi Mason says sharing decades of experience in the justice and public safety field is part of the school’s commitment to collaboration and community connections.
“Preparing new officers to serve their communities through the Police Cadet program is a privilege and a valued collaboration. The first graduating class of Grande Prairie Police Service recruits from Lethbridge Polytechnic’s Police Cadet Training program is a milestone worth celebrating,” Mason says.
Back in August the polytechnic and GPPS announced the partnership, which kicked off back in September when the cadet class began their training. Over 22 weeks, two Leth Poly instructors and the cadet coordinator from the Centre for Justice and Human Services travelled to Grande Prairie several times to teach law and to guide scenario assessments. As well an instructor from the Be Fit for Life Centre was on-site to evaluate recruit fitness levels and put together a fitness program that was taught by a local instructor.
The GPPS is set to start training their second recruit class at the end of next month with the third class scheduled for the fall.
