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ALEX MCCUAIG
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Standing proud with shoes polished so
bright they reflected the sun, pants with creases sharp enough to
cut and salutes as snappy as mouse traps, 21 police cadets received
their badges at Medicine Hat’s Riverside Park Friday.
The ceremony was part of the 2008
graduating class from Lethbridge College’s police recruit
training program that will provide 12 new constables to this city,
one to Taber Police Service and eight to Lethbridge’s
force.
Former MHPS chief and current Mayor of
Medicine Hat, Norm Boucher, said this graduating class will help
fill out the force’s ranks but they may need to put some new
recruits through the program this winter.
“I think they will have to train
again January. Usually we train once a year in May but I believe
from what I hear we will have to train again.”
Overall though, Mayor Boucher said the
MHPS is in good shape.
“I think we have good people and
attitude as well as great leadership.”
Representing the Lethbridge Regional
Police Service at the event was Inspector Colin Catonio.
“This will get us to where we need
to be and make us fully staffed for at least 2008 but we will
certainly be looking for more in 2009. Lethbridge is growing and we
have to keep up with that,” he said.
“The province is going through good
times and we see it on our end when it comes to crime and we need
these people to help us fight that crime.”
This ceremony witnessed a unique event as
the tradition of family members who are law officers being able to
present the badges this year featured a RCMP constable making a
presentation to her sister as well as an RCMP inspector to her
niece.
Halifax RCMP Const. Cheryl Brunet said
it’s becoming an more common sight to see female siblings
like her and her little sister at these types of ceremonies.
“I told her it is a very rewarding
career, challenging but absolutely the best opportunity,” she
said.
Medicine Hat Police Const. Michelle Brunet
said she feels “fantastic” about the chance to join her
sister in a law enforcement career.
“When I told my sister this is
something I wanted to do, she was honoured and thought it was the
greatest thing.” |
