By Erika Rolling

Municipal Police

GPPS officers to get trained by Lethbridge Polytechnic

Aug 28, 2024 | 12:55 PM

A new partnership has been created between a post-secondary institution to train the first newly hired officers for the Grande Prairie Police Service.

New recruits for the newly formed service will complete the Lethbridge Polytechnic’s Police Cadet Training program before starting their policing alongside a field training officer.

A class of 12 will be the first to take the program in September in Grande Prairie. Two instructors and the cadet coordinator from Lethbridge’s Centre for Justice and Human Services will come up north to teach law and to guide scenario assessments several times over a 22-week period.

There will also be an instructor from the institution’s Be Fit For Life Centre on site initially evaluate plebe’s fitness levels and make fitness programs to be taught by a local instructor.

GPPS Chief Dwayne Lakusta said in a release; “This partnership with Lethbridge Polytechnic will strengthen Grande Prairie Police Service’s recruit training and ensure our newest officers are well prepared for their field training with post-secondary-calibre instruction.”

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“GPPS is proud to provide all of its training locally and is grateful to be working with the polytechnic to further our success in building a progressive, responsive and modern police service for the City of Grande Prairie,” Chief Lakusta also said in the same release.

Lethbridge Polytechnic also trains newly hired officers and recruits for; Lethbridge Police Service, Taber Police Service, Blood Tribe Police Service, Manitoba First Nations Police Service, Canadian National Railway, and Canadian Pacific Kansas City. The post-secondary institution says they will continue to provide yearly training classes for the GPPS until ranks are filled, and on an as-needed basis going forward.

All graduates of the program will also receive 42 credits towards the polytechnic’s Criminal Justice – Policing diploma, if they wish to continue their education in the future.