First troop of Aboriginal Community Constables graduate from RCMP “Depot”

ACC Cadet Adrian Pilakapsi has his first experience with Oleoresin Capsicum (pepper) spray during a training excersice at Depot.

OTTAWA, ON - April 12, 2011 - The first troop of Aboriginal Community Constables from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) will graduate today during a ceremony at RCMP Academy, “Depot” Division in Regina, Saskatchewan.

An Aboriginal Community Constable (ACC) is an armed, uniformed peace officer at the rank of Special Constable. Their primary focus is to engage their communities in active crime prevention/reduction and to build positive relationships between their communities and the RCMP. ACCs will enhance, not replace, the work of general duty RCMP constables; they will have the capacity to provide tactical, enforcement and investigational support to other RCMP officers if required.

"Among other qualities, these cadets will bring to our organization linguistic, cultural and community skills and knowledge that go beyond those taught at Depot," says RCMP Commissioner William Elliott. "Aboriginal communities identified a need for an alternate service delivery and we believe that the ACC pilot program will help answer that need."

The ACC pilot program is part of the RCMP's ongoing commitment to the Aboriginal Strategic Priority. Following graduation, the new constables will return to their communities in Alberta, Manitoba, Nunavut and the Northwest Territories to begin their new assignments.

Wearing the renowned RCMP Red Serge uniform for the first time this week will be:

• Lawrence Jackson - Piikani FN, Alberta
• Kyle Boisvert - Thompson , MB
• Robert Cleveland - Thompson , MB
• Lawrence Letander - Gypsumville , MB
• Ryan Linklater - Nelson House, MB
• Adrian Pilakapsi - Rankin Inlet , Nunavut  
• Steven Beck - Hay River , NWT 

Commissioner Elliott, along with Commanding Officers and representatives from RCMP Aboriginal Policing Services will attend the ceremony as well as several provincial/territorial Ministers of Justice, the Chief of the Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation, the Chief of the Piikani Nation, the Grand Chief of the Assembly Manitoba Chiefs and the president of the Manitoba Metis Federation.

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More information
Please contact RCMP Media Relations
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