Twenty local youth got a firsthand look at a career in law enforcement during a three-day Youth Academy hosted by the Lloydminster RCMP.
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The program, which ran from July 22 to 24, was open to participants aged 15 to 19 who are interested in pursuing policing careers.
Throughout the event, participants were exposed to specialized units, including police dog services, forensic identification, the Alberta law enforcement response teams (ALERT), and national weapons enforcement.
Hands-on activities included touring police vehicles, trying on operational gear and matching suspect fingerprints for a mock investigation.
The youth also took on the physical demands of the job by completing the RCMP physical abilities requirement evaluation (PARE) fitness test and learning troop marching drills led by Sgt. Maj. Leilani Collins of K Division.
The academy aimed to help participants develop interpersonal, communication and teamwork skills.
The event concluded with a certificate ceremony attended by Lloydminster Mayor Gerald Aalbers and Insp. Brian Nicholl, who congratulated the graduating troop.
“We believe these opportunities are important for our youth,” said Staff Sgt. Bruce MacLean, operations NCO of the Lloydminster RCMP.
“Allowing them to see firsthand what police work can be while building up their skills will help them decide if this career is right for them. Even should they choose otherwise, we believe that the learning done here will stay with them for years to come.”
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