Grande Prairie Police Service Transition Update
Recruit Training Class (RTC) #2 is in the 11th week of Block 1 training and will graduate on September 12th. The 14 recruits continue to demonstrate their strong development in practical skills and academic understanding with positive feedback about their progress, professionalism and commitment. The RTC #1 members in the Community Standards Unit (CSU) continue with community engagement, pro-social order discouragement, supporting Wapiti House and St. Lawrence Centre, and conducting several traffic operations. The recruitment for RTC #3 closed at the end of May with an excellent number of applications. RTC #3 will begin their training in October. The four Experienced Officer Class (EPO) #4 officers were sworn in on June 2nd and will graduate on June 27th. Two officers will join the frontline policing at the detachment; one officer will be assigned as a training officer and one as a detective. GPPS continues to develop its Tactical Team model and comprehensive drone program. The second APCAT workshop for those interested in pursuing the opportunity to be a recruit was held on June 3rd and was well attended.
Odyssey House Presentation
The Commission welcomed a presentation from Madi Crispen and Makaela Benson from Odyssey House, an emergency shelter in Grande Prairie for victims of gender-based violence. The presentation provided information on Odyssey House's programs and services. Odyssey House offers support to those affected by domestic violence, including women, children, and men who are victims. Their services include an emergency shelter, transitional housing, counselling, legal advocacy, and personalized safety plans tailored to everyone’s unique situation. They also engage in public education through community outreach, including educational presentations in schools to promote healthy relationships and prevention. They are particularly interested in working with police to manage safety concerns, response to missing person reports, support victims during reporting, and arrange police escorts when individuals need to retrieve personal belongings from unsafe environments. Madi and Makaela emphasized their desire to maintain a positive and collaborative relationship with the Grande Prairie Police Service.
Provincial Funding
Premier Danielle Smith and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services, Mike Ellis, announced $7 million being distributed to GPPS which is a part of the original $19 million initially promised by the Government of Alberta in 2023. The minister advised that the additional funds will be used for start-up costs that include the building, implementation, salary, benefits, recruitment, equipment, training and more.