The Grande Prairie Police Service is proudly celebrating the graduation of its second class of recruits. Fourteen new police officers were honoured at a ceremony held at Teresa Sargent Hall on September 12, 2025, surrounded by dignitaries, family, and colleagues.
This class marks another milestone in the growth of the municipal police service and includes GPPS’ first three female recruits. The graduates successfully completed a comprehensive six-month training program delivered locally, which includes Lethbridge Polytechnic’s Police Cadet Training program, earning them a certificate in Police Cadet Training.
"The graduation of this second class of Grande Prairie Police Service recruits is another meaningful milestone in our collaboration,” says Dean of Lethbridge Polytechnic’s Centre for Justice and Human Services, Trudi Mason. “We are proud of these graduates and wish them well in their policing careers. Preparing new officers to serve their communities through our Police Cadet Training program is a privilege, and we value the expertise our instructors share in supporting the important work of GPPS.”
The 14 recruits bring a wealth of personal and professional experience to the service. Eight are from the Grande Prairie region, while the remaining six come from across northern and southern Alberta, with one officer joining from Ontario. Their backgrounds span a wide range of fields, including trades, legal support (paralegals), corrections, peace officers, and military police.
“The graduation of our second recruit class highlights the continued growth and strength of the Grande Prairie Police Service,” says GPPS Chief of Police Dwayne Lakusta. “This diverse group of officers has demonstrated resilience, dedication, and commitment to community safety throughout their training. We are especially proud to welcome our first female recruits, who will contribute to building a modern, inclusive police service that reflects the community we serve.”
Interest in joining GPPS remains high; this class was selected from nearly 300 applicants, prompting the service to expand its class size by two positions. Candidates were chosen through a rigorous process involving written and physical assessments, multiple interviews, polygraph testing, psychological evaluations, and extensive background checks.
Following graduation, six new constables will begin mandatory field training at the Grande Prairie RCMP detachment under the supervision of experienced GPPS officers, applying their classroom learning in real-world situations while continuing to build the skills needed to serve Grande Prairie with professionalism and integrity. The other eight will initially join GPPS’ Community Standards Unit, working under an experienced GPPS supervisor to address social disorder in key areas of the city.
“The Grande Prairie Police Commission congratulates the members of Recruit Class #2,” says Grande Prairie Police Commission Chair Dan Wong. “Their achievements represent the hard work of the recruits themselves, as well as the commitment of our training teams and community partners. We are proud to see the service continue to grow in both size and diversity.”
“The Grande Prairie Police Service is already making a positive impact across the city, and City Council is proud to see their expanding presence with the growing member ranks, patrol vehicles and community initiatives,” says City of Grande Prairie Mayor Jackie Clayton. “We are excited to welcome and congratulate the latest class of recruits on their graduation, and thank them for choosing Grande Prairie.”
With the graduation of Recruit Class #2, GPPS now has 50 sworn officers. Recruit Class #3 and Experienced Officer Program #5 are set to begin training in late September, continuing the expansion and commitment to excellence in public safety ahead of becoming the police of primary jurisdiction for the City of Grande Prairie.
