College to provide standard training for recruits

FRANK MCTIGHE MACLEOD GAZETTE EDITOR

A new provincial police college will provide standard training for all recruits.    The drive toward a provincial police college began in 2002 in Alberta when an MLA review committee recommended establishment of a single training site for police and peace officers.    "The police forces are all doing an excellent job, but there is no real single standard across the province," said Andy Wieler, director of communications for the Solicitor General's department.    The process started in 2002 has led to Fort Macleod, Lac La Biche, Camrose and Red Deer as the finalists as the site for the $100-million college.    The Solicitor General's department embraced the idea of standard training for police and peace officers in Alberta, which is one of only two provinces that do not have a central training site.    "The base set of knowledge will be the same," Wieler said of the outcome.    The college is expected to provide basic training each year for 350 to 400 police and peace officer recruits.    In addition, another 1,000 peace officer recruits Ñ including special constables, private investigators, security guards and corrections officers Ñ will also be provided each year.    "There will be ongoing professional development at the site as well," Wieler said of training that is expected to draw 1,200 veteran police and peace officers each year to the college. The college is expected to include on-site accommodations, administrative and instructor offices, classrooms, an auditorium, a library, computer labs and a cafeteria.    In addition there will be athletic and recreational space, indoor and outdoor firing ranges, driver training courses and storage areas.    One of the province's goals in building the college is to eliminate the duplication of training services provided by police forces.    The province contends the college will allow police forces to cut costs associated with training.    "Which in turn will mean they can put more front-line officers on the street," Wieler said. "That's a benefit to the police services, and its a benefit to the communities they're working in."    Wieler said the site selection committee was instructed to find a site for the college that provided room for growth.    Alberta's booming economy is driving the need for more law enforcement officers. There is also the possibility the college will be opened to the military for training.    At present plans are for police services and other agencies to send their recruits to the college.    However, there may be opportunity for people to attend college on their own initiative, and then apply for jobs with the police forces of their choice.    "That's one of the things we're still working on," Wieler said.    The Solicitor General's department also can't provide specifics on the impact the college will have on criminal justice programs, such as the one offered at Lethbridge Community College.    "It's a little early to tell," Wieler said. "We have someone who is looking at curriculum for the (college). We'll just have to wait and see."    No deadline has been set for the opening of the college.    "We're really just focusing on the next step, which is selecting the site," Wieler said.