The Grande Prairie Police Service has proudly celebrated the graduation of its inaugural class of recruit police officers. A ceremony, attended by dignitaries, family, and colleagues, was held on February 21, 2025, at the Teresa Sargent Hall to commemorate the achievements of the 12 graduates and mark this historic moment.
This long-anticipated milestone in the development of the municipal police service follows the successful completion of a comprehensive six-month training program, conducted at various locations across the Grande Prairie area. In addition to benefiting from the expertise of local professionals, the recruits also participated in Lethbridge Polytechnic’s Police Cadet Training program, earning a certificate in Police Cadet Training upon graduation.
“As part of our commitment to collaboration and community connections, Lethbridge Polytechnic is pleased to share the benefits of our decades of experience in the justice and public safety field,” says Trudi Mason, dean of Lethbridge Polytechnic’s Centre for Justice and Human Services. “Preparing new officers to serve their communities through the Police Cadet program is a privilege, and a valued collaboration. The first graduating class of Grande Prairie Police Service recruits from Lethbridge Polytechnic’s Police Cadet Training program is a milestone worth celebrating. It’s an honour for our polytechnic instructors to be able to share their expertise and to play a part in supporting GPPS’s excellent police service.”
The graduating officers bring a wide range of diverse backgrounds and experiences to the Grande Prairie Police Service. Of the 12 recruits, eight are from the Peace Country, two hail from other parts of Alberta, and two are from British Columbia. These officers were selected for the GPPS' inaugural recruit class through a highly competitive process that attracted nearly 200 applicants.
The newly graduated officers will now undergo field training with experienced officers to further develop the skills and knowledge they acquired during their classroom training. Six of the officers will be immediately deployed to the Grande Prairie RCMP Detachment, where they will receive mentorship from seasoned GPPS officers. This phase of training is mandatory and is expected to last up to four months. The remaining six officers will be assigned to other duties until additional field training officers become available.
“This momentous graduation is a testament not only to the dedication and hard work of our recruits over the past several months, but also to the tireless efforts of our transition, recruiting, and training teams.” says Dwayne Lakusta, Chief of Police for the Grande Prairie Police Service. “I am grateful for the collaboration of numerous law enforcement and community partners, whose contributions have been invaluable in ensuring our team possesses the experience, skills, resources, and innovative solutions necessary to enhance safety in our city.”
The February 21st ceremony also marked the graduation of GPPS’ third Experienced Officer Program. The three graduates, a patrol sergeant, detective, and recruiting officer, come from the Toronto Police Service, Edmonton Police Service, and the RCMP. Together, they bring a wealth of expertise in areas such as organized crime investigations, major crimes, covert operations, collision reconstruction, and community policing.
Two of the experienced officers will be assigned to the Grande Prairie RCMP detachment, joining five other experienced GPPS officers, while the third will join the GPPS recruitment team. The GPPS now has a complement of 32 sworn officers working together to prove the transition successful.
“The Grande Prairie Police Commission is proud to see the policing transition reach such a monumental point with such a strong showing of members,” says Grande Prairie Police Commission Chair Dan Wong. “We are excited to see the recruits begin their new careers representing the service’s core values of community, integrity, and respect.”
“The Grande Prairie Police Service is blazing a new trail for modern policing, and we’re grateful to have growing ranks on the frontlines,” says City of Grande Prairie Mayor Jackie Clayton. “We know that the recruitment has been a competitive and demanding process, and we hope all the graduates take pride in their accomplishment and commitment to supporting community safety.”
GPPS will begin training its second recruit class at the end of March 2025, with the third scheduled to start in the fall. Recruitment for Recruit Class #3 and Experienced Officer Program #4 is currently ongoing.
