(Photo Credit: Everything GP Staff)

By Nathaniel Leigh

GPPS

GPPS assigns first recruit graduates to RCMP detachment & new unit

Mar 20, 2025 | 11:25 AM

The first graduating class of Grande Prairie Police Service’s first recruit program have been assigned to their new positions.

Six of the graduates have been assigned to the Grande Prairie RCMP detachment for on-the-job field coaching, alongside three more experienced GPPS officers, bringing the total number of GPPS officers assigned to the detachment to 13.

To ensure citizens receive a consistent approach to policing during the transition, all new GPPS officers assigned to the detachment receive extra training to become familiar with RCMP procedures and practices.

“We look forward to having these new officers, both in a policing capacity at the detachment and a provincial and municipal enforcement capacity in the downtown core, to enhance our service to the people of Grande Prairie,” says Superintendent Steve McLeod, Officer-in-Charge, Grande Prairie RCMP. “No matter the uniform, we are all dedicated to keeping people safe, so integrating these officers where they will have the most impact helps us ensure the transition progresses responsibly and without impacting public safety.”

Additionally, six other GPPS graduates have been assigned to the local Community Standards Unit, a GPPS and Grande Prairie Enforcement Services-led program announced this week.

These graduates will be active in Grande Prairie’s city centre to monitor disorder and provide community policing services by reinforcing public safety with a law enforcement presence in the core.

They will be limited in their roles and responsibilities by strict policy until they complete field training under experienced GPPS officers out of the Grande Prairie RCMP detachment later this year.

“This latest milestone demonstrates our commitment to a smooth and successful policing transition through our partnership with the RCMP,” says Chief Dwayne Lakusta, Grande Prairie Police Service. “The establishment of the Community Standards Unit underscores our ongoing dedication to working closely with residents and downtown businesses, enhancing their quality of life through increased visibility and greater community engagement.”