Deputy Chief Brian Simpson will be presenting service awards to each cadet as well as awards for: leadership, fitness, dress and deportment, leading by example, and for exemplary dedication.
“Having always wanted to become a police officer, I saw cadets as a form of an extended job interview,” says Recruit Const. Jack Klick, who is currently in Recruit Training Class #137 and was a former police cadet. “It allowed me so many opportunities to absorb EPS values, such as integrity, teamwork and altruism. It has prepared me to give my best throughout my recruit training.”
The EPS Cadets program is open to youth ages 13 to 19 who have an interest in law enforcement and want to make a difference in their community. Every week cadets learn about policing and crime prevention, participate in educational and recreational activities, and volunteer at police and community events. Cadets also learn effective leadership skills, gain confidence, and build positive relationships that last a lifetime.
The Cadets program traces its roots back to 1979 when the Edmonton Police Service joined with Scouts Canada to form the 189th Venturer Company. The purpose was to provide positive experiences to help young people mature and to prepare them to become responsible and caring adults. In 1990, the Venturers became the EPS Cadets, an independent program sponsored and funded by the police service and parents and guardians of participants.
For more information about the EPS Cadet program, please visit www.edmontonpolice.ca/joineps/policecadets.