The Grande Prairie Police Service (GPPS) has marked another milestone in its growth with the graduation of its fourth Experienced Officer Program. A ceremony was held the morning of June 27, 2025, in the Rotary Community Room of the Grande Prairie Public Library, attended by dignitaries, colleagues, and family members.
The graduation class includes four experienced officers who bring valuable service backgrounds from the Calgary Police Service, Lacombe Police Service, Lakeshore Regional Police Service, and Sainte-Anne Police Service in Manitoba. Together, they bring a wealth of expertise in areas such as training, tactical operations, and community policing.
GPPS’ Experienced Officer Program spans approximately five weeks and equips officers with essential knowledge and local context. Training components include the Police Act, trauma-informed practices, Indigenous teachings, use-of-force protocols, mental health first aid, unconscious bias, and immediate action rapid deployment, among others. Instruction is provided in partnership with local agencies and organizations to ensure training is relevant and community-focused.
Three of the experienced officers will move to work out of the Grande Prairie RCMP detachment, with two on patrol and one in a special investigations unit. Their additions bring the number of GPPS members assigned at the detachment to 17, including and inspector overseeing the Patrol and Investigations Branch. The fourth officer will join the GPPS training team.
GPPS is also pleased to report strong progress from its second recruit class, comprised of 14 new recruits who are on track to graduate on September 12, 2025. They will bring the total number of sworn GPPS members to 50. Selection is currently underway for a third recruit class scheduled to begin later this year, as well as recruitment for the fifth intake of the Experience Officer Program.
As GPPS continues to expand, the organization remains committed to building a modern, community-driven police service that reflects the needs and values of Grande Prairie.
Information provided by the Grande Prairie Police Service