The ranks of the Grande Prairie Police Service (GPPS) continue to grow with the graduation of its second Experienced Officer Program. A ceremony was held the morning of November 25, 2024, at the Teresa Sargent Hall in front of a crowd of dignitaries, colleagues, and family.
The three graduates have strong ties to the Grande Prairie area, each having either grown up in the city, most recently worked out of the Grande Prairie detachment, or previously worked in the area and eager to return. They bring experience in dismantling organized crime in a multi-agency enforcement unit, rural policing, and child forensic interviewing, and are already serving as mentors to GPPS’ first recruit class underway.
GPPS’ Experienced Officer Program lasts approximately five weeks and includes training on the Police Act, trauma-informed care, Indigenous teachings, firearms, mental health first aid, conducted energy weapons, unconscious bias, immediate action rapid deployment, first aid, policies, and more. All the training is delivered locally with community partners.
Two of the experienced officers have begun working alongside members of the RCMP, joining three of their GPPS colleagues at the Grande Prairie detachment, while the third is a full-time resource to the Caribou Child & Youth Centre.
GPPS is also excited about the progress of its first recruit class, scheduled to graduate on February 21, 2025. This class, consisting of 12 members, will further strengthen the presence of GPPS officers in Grande Prairie. Currently, applications are being processed for the second recruit class, which is set to begin in March 2025, as well as for the third Experienced Officer Program, scheduled to start in January 2025.
Information provided by the Grande Prairie Police Service