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Lethbridge Police Service welcomes 7 new Constables

Jun 30, 2017 | 1:57 PM

LETHBRIDGE – Ten recruits walked the stage Friday morning (June 30) to begin their careers as police officers.
 
The graduates completed a rigorous four-month long training program to get to this point, which was developed in partnership with Lethbridge College. All of them were sworn in Friday morning at the Lethbridge Courthouse and proceeded to their graduation ceremony at Galt Gardens.
 
Seven constables from the 2017 class will be welcomed by the Lethbridge Police Service, including one familiar name.
 
Cst. Jim Steacy, former Olympic hammer throw athlete, became emotional while thanking his instructors and classmates during his speech at the ceremony.
 
He told local media that he had been thinking about pursuing a career in policing for nearly 10 years, and finally had the chance to do so after his athletic career came to a close last year.
 
“It feels surreal, to be honest,” Steacy said with a smile.
 
“It still hasn’t sunk in, and I don’t think it will for a few more weeks yet until we hit the street. Just to be surrounded by my teammates that went through this program together, all of our instructors, our family and friends is just unreal.”
 
Steacy will be joining the LPS alongside Cst. Bret Napper, Matthew Payant, Domenic Rigaux, Allison Williams, Colin Zoeteman and Steven Zwartbol.
 
Each were given their badges by Chief Rob Davis, who noted that he was proud watching their progress throughout cadet training.
 
“Policing is always changing, society’s always changing, and we have to change to meet those demands.
 
“There’s an automatic provincial minimum standard we have to meet, then beyond that a lot of it’s character,” Davis added when asked what the LPS looks for in an officer. “We want to see that we’re hiring people that bring integrity and honesty, that understand community, that understand communication.”
 
The final three recruits from this graduating class are Cst. Joelle Pipe, Brendan Groft and Samantha Johnson, who will become part of the Canadian Pacific Police Service.