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Jump Start - - by Lisa Wieser
Here's the monthly look at some provincial training, education,
job hunting and networking opportunities:
Thinking about a career in law enforcement? Jump into a career with
the Calgary Police Service (CPS). The CPS is conducting an ongoing
recruitment campaign because of the number of officers retiring over
the next five years and with the increasing growth of the city,
according to the CPS' fall newsletter.
The CPS will add about 100 to 125 new members each year over the next
five to seven years. There are currently about 1,400 sworn members.
The CPS hires from several educational backgrounds; in fact, a recent
class of recruits was comprised of one-third with a high school
diploma, the same number with a post-secondary diploma, and the same
number with a post-secondary degree. There are tons of career
specialties within the CPS, currently with 109 areas to choose from,
such as K9, tactical, commercial crime, and school resource
officers.
Not ready to jump in just yet? Perhaps hands-on experience with the
CPS would answer a few questions. One of the best ways to experience
a day in the life of a police officer is to arrange a ride-along with
your local police department district office.
Simply go to the CPS district office of your choice and fill out a
request form. You will be approved on the basis of a security check.
Then the fun begins. As you ride in the back of the police car for
an entire shift, you can experience the excitement up close. Besides
the opportunity to speed through the streets with the sirens on, you
can talk with the officers, learn about police conduct and gain an
appreciation of what officers really do on the job.
Education/Training
Police officers, bylaw officers, parole officers, corrections
officers, intelligence officers, conservation officers
The University of Calgary offers a four-year bachelor
degree in law and society.
Columbia College offers a six-month program in
criminal justice.
Grant MacEwan College offers two-year diplomas in correctional services, and police studies.
Medicine Hat College offers a two-year police and
security diploma.
Lethbridge Community College offers diplomas in criminal justice-corrections, or policing or security.
Lethbridge Community College also offers a four-year applied degree in conservation enforcement.
Mount Royal College offers an applied justice
studies program.
Bachelor degrees with specializations in areas such as sociology
(criminology), psychology and social work are available at several
institutions throughout the province.
Businesses/Associations
Job Boards
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