Born and raised in Portage la Prairie, Jason Towle has spent 18 years serving as a constable with the Winnipeg Police Service (WPS). Now, his son Jaytey is following in his footsteps as a newly graduated constable with the Manitoba First Nations Police Service (MFNPS), beginning his journey in front-line policing.
Though Jason came to policing later in life, it was always the career he envisioned.
"I got into it a little bit later—I was 35 when I started at the academy. I just always had a calling to that, and it's been a fantastic career for me. I've been a frontline police officer working the streets in general patrol, community service, and now with the Traffic Division, all with WPS."
Inspired by family and faith
For Jaytey, the decision to pursue law enforcement was rooted in admiration for his father’s path—and reinforced by a spiritual calling.
"He’s a big reason why I want to become a police officer," Jaytey says. "He’s always been a huge role model for me, and I don’t think I’d be where I am today without him. Another big reason why I wanted to become a police officer was a Bible verse I heard when I was in high school. Matthew 5:9 says, ‘Blessed are the peacemakers because they will be called Sons of God.' That also led me towards policing, to be a peacemaker."
Training built on resilience
In April, Jaytey completed the MFNPS’s six-month training program in Southport. Rigorous and immersive, the program is designed to prepare recruits for the realities of community-based policing.
"It was a long six months, but also very rewarding. It’s a lot of knowledge to learn," Jaytey notes. "You put in the time, and either sink or swim."
Jason witnessed much of that commitment firsthand.
"I saw Jaytey studying at the kitchen table for long hours, and he would share his training with me," he continues. "He showed me that he's a resilient person with a lot of strength and character."
Though the training is behind him, Jaytey’s responsibilities are just beginning as he takes on his first assignment.
"He's only a few shifts in, but we're talking through different scenarios," Jason adds. "It's a difficult job, and everything is based on the totality of the circumstances. It could be just one little thing that changes how the call goes. You have to be focused, determined, and a leader, while keeping people's rights, freedoms, and safety in mind."
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A shared path
Jaytey found support in unexpected places, including reconnecting with a childhood friend during training.
"We went to school our whole lives together. It was nice to see a familiar face," he says, recalling running into Brandon Rouire on signing day. "It probably made me more comfortable knowing someone in there."
Law enforcement runs deep in the Towle family. Jason traces the growing lineage proudly.
"I started it off in 2008 with WPS, my cousin is with the RCMP, my sister worked with MFNPS, and her daughter’s now in the police academy in Lac Seul. Then, of course, Corporal Derek Smoke is Jaytey’s uncle—so we're becoming a family of ‘blue bloods.’"
For Jason, the message he hopes to pass down goes beyond tactics or training.
"If there was one thing I could pass on to my son, it is to take care of himself. Use that title for good and look after the people you serve and protect."
Community-rooted policing
The MFNPS training program emphasizes cultural awareness to prepare officers for the complexities of serving communities affected by historical trauma, poverty, and systemic challenges. As a Dakota person, Jaytey shares a connection to that mission and feels called to uphold it in his service.
"I'm looking forward to getting more involved. First Nations have gone through struggles in the past, and I'm happy to serve and protect these communities."
The road ahead
For Jaytey, the journey is just beginning, and Jason knows the challenges ahead well. His advice to his son is rooted in experience.
"Give yourself five years before you evaluate yourself on the job. It is a lot to show up and wrap your head around the fact that you are the authority. You are there to keep the peace, and you're the one calling the shots, so that confidence level takes some time to gain. It's not something that you graduate from and immediately have all the answers."
He also reminds his son that police work is always evolving.
"Even to this day, going into my 18th year, I don't have the answers. The law is broad, it's always changing. What the law was today doesn't mean it will be the same next year. There's the law, there's policy, there's public opinion, there's court decisions, and everything's always being challenged."
More than a job
For Jason, watching his son take on this responsibility brings pride and a sense of gravity.
"We're all rallying behind him. It's a tough job with a lot of liability and responsibility. You show up every day knowing that you have to put yourself in harm's way, and that might even mean laying your life down for one of your shift mates or someone in the public. I show up knowing that, but now I know my son is showing up and taking on that same responsibility. It's a lot of stress, but I know he's younger, faster, and stronger than I am, and he can take care of himself."
As the Towle family continues to serve Manitoba’s communities, they show what it means to wear the badge with purpose, compassion, and deep-rooted connection.
"It's been very challenging for me, just like every police officer," Jason says. "I know it will be for Jaytey, but I think we're called to it and are up for the challenge."