The Edmonton Police Service (EPS) and Lakeshore Regional Police Service (LRPS) are set to welcome the newest members of their organizations this week.
Forty EPS officers and one LRPS officer will formally graduate as part of Recruit Training Class (RTC) 156 at City Hall at 1 p.m. on Friday, June 16, 2023.
Members of RTC 156 come from diverse backgrounds, including law enforcement, social services, the trades, corrections, and the military. Those members not coming from Edmonton or other parts of Canada have origins in other countries such as Jamaica, the United Arab Emirates, India, France, the Philippines, and the United Kingdom.
The EPS acknowledges that training cannot be limited to presentations or in-class learning and encourages opportunities to gain first-hand and front-line experiences. This helps officers better understand and assist vulnerable communities.
RTC 156 took the initiative to build positive interactions within the community, donating an incredible 1,100 volunteer hours (equivalent to approximately 144 eight-hour shifts) on their own time. Those hours were spent supporting Ukrainian refugees, meeting with students and staff at three different schools, and supporting causes such as the Special Olympics, Society for the Blind, the ALS society, military veterans, and 2SLGBTQIA+ youth. They also took part in the Sikh Nagar Kirtan parade and the EPS regimental funeral.
“I am extremely proud of RTC 156 for recognizing the importance of community engagement,” says EPS Chief Dale McFee. “It is so encouraging to see them embrace such an important role of policing at such an early stage in their career. We are excited to welcome these new officers into EPS family and look forward to seeing more great things from them in the future.”
With RTC 156’s academy training complete, the new constables now move into field development with the EPS Community Policing Bureau. Afterwards, they will return for some additional assessment and training to maximize their potential further.