GPPS marks another developmental milestone during driving training

Another significant milestone for the Grande Prairie Police Service came last Friday when the class of 12 recruits engaged in their first taste of operating a police cruiser during their driving training.

Excitement and pride filled the air as the group and their instructors burned rubber at the NAPA Auto Parts Raceway in Beaverlodge. GPPS Superintendent Greg Redl says the occasion marked yet another important step in his agency’s development.

“There’s just kind of a sense of pride so far and what we’ve been able to accomplish and get this set up like we’re out here at a driving track providing this training, we’ve got the vehicles, the equipment, a class of 12 recruits and everything is just going so well,” he says. “I think [we’re] exceeding all the expectations we kind of had for ourselves, especially with the time frame in question.” 

During the event, the Superintendent took a moment to reflect on his more than 20-year policing career, saying it has been quite exciting for him and his leadership team to engage in training activities they may not have been a part of since the beginning of their careers.

“Nothing has become routine to us as far as the training goes, so every time we hit one of these, a first, like the driver’s training or a first firearms class, first drill class, it’s all very exciting to us, especially for some of us older instructors where it’s been, two decades or so since we went through it ourselves,” he says. “We can reminisce a little bit while we watch this next generation of police officers go through it all.” 

The first batch of GPPS recruits has entered the fifth week of their 26-week training program, and Redl maintains that as the group continues to progress, he feels prouder about the work his agency has completed as the weeks go on.

“I appreciated their interest especially right from the beginning,” he says. “I know that there were some detractors of the idea and some people that maybe didn’t think that we’d be able to get this off the ground, so for them to apply the day the postings came out, I think showed a big leap of faith on their part.” 

Most of the training has been classroom-based so far; however, Redl says the group will continue moving forward with more hands-on, practical skill learning opportunities as the training program progresses.