GPPS second Experienced Officer Class graduates

Nov 25, 2024 | 4:12 PM

The Grande Prairie Police Service is celebrating the graduation of its second Experienced Officer Class.

The three new GPPS officers had a graduation ceremony held Monday November 25, 2024 at Teresa Sargent Hall.

The officers are all either from Grande Prairie or have previously worked in the area. The service says they bring experience in a variety of fields including dismantling organized crime, rural policing, and child forensic interviewing.

The program lasts approximately five weeks and covers topics like the Police Act, trauma-informed care, Indigenous teaching, and more.

GPPS Chief Dwayne Lakusta says the service is committed to building a progressive and responsive policing model that modernizes law enforcement in the community.

Grande Prairie Police Commission Chair Dan Wong says the commission is excited to see the extensive experience these members bring to the service, and that this second graduation is a milestone in the service’s transition.

Two of the experienced officers will be working with the RCMP, while a third is a full-time resource to the Caribou Child & Youth Centre.

A third Experienced Officer Program is schedule to start in January.

The service also says its first recruit class is progressing well and is scheduled to graduate February 21, 2025.

by Nathaniel Leigh