By Haylee WingerThe Grande Prairie Police Service has welcomed 15 new officers as it prepares to take over municipal policing in the city on October 21.
The group consists of 10 recruits and five experienced officers who have served with police services elsewhere in Canada. All 15 were recognized during a ceremony at Bonnetts Energy Centre on October 9.
Recruit Class #4 is the final group to graduate before GPPS takes over as the police service responsible for the City of Grande Prairie on October 21, marking the transition to municipal policing.
The recruits spent six months in training, completing the Lethbridge Polytechnic Police Cadet Training Program and earning a certificate in Police Cadet Training.
Their backgrounds include law enforcement, military service, municipal enforcement, resource industries and private-sector work.
GPPS Chief of Police Dwayne Lakusta said the class holds a special place in the service’s history as it prepares to take over municipal policing.
“Recruit Class #4 will forever hold a unique place in the history of our organization as the final class to graduate before we assume responsibility for policing in our community,” Lakusta said in a GPPS press release.
The recruits will continue their training alongside experienced GPPS officers before taking on their duties in the community
GPPS now has 80 sworn officers as it prepares to take over municipal policing on October 21, 2026.
“The addition of experienced officers alongside newly trained recruits reflects our balanced approach to building a strong and sustainable police service,” Lakusta said. “Their diverse backgrounds and policing experience will enhance our ability to provide professional, effective, and community-focused policing from day one.”
