It’s a patrol down memory lane for two of the first Grande Prairie Police Service officers.
Const. Erik Gault was raised in the Swan City and said while he often considered law enforcement as a career, the opportunity to do so in a place he feels deeply connected to was one he couldn’t pass up.
Gault, who is part of the always-patrolling Community Standards Unit, which focuses on proactive downtown Grande Prairie patrols, said officers have an opportunity to establish relationships and engage extensively with and visitors.
“Living at the latitude we live at it, it’s not all year round you get people to interact with. It’s exciting this summer because there are a lot of people around, you get a chance to interact with them in a positive way,” Gault said.
“We want to be seen, and that’s a good thing for us. A lot of proactive police approach we are looking for is being out there and being seen so people feel safe, or they feel like they don’t want to be there if they’re doing bad things.”
For Const. Lakhbir Mann, a similar path brought him into the first GPPS class. His previous role as a peace officer in the County of Grande Prairie paved the way for his move to the new municipal police service, allowing him to stay in the city where he’s built a life for more than a decade.
Mann says being part of the inaugural recruit class is especially exciting, given the historic impact officers can have as the city transitions from RCMP policing.
“Talking to business owners, asking them face to face what do you expect from your new police. We are trying to meet their expectations, and that’s the goal; to set the standard for the next classes [of officers] to come through here,” Mann said.
The Grande Prairie Police Service is set to officially take over policing duties from the RCMP in fall 2026.
