RCMP Academy teaches youth about law enforcement

The students are staying at the dorms and undertaking the training at the Vernon Military Camp.

The organizer of the academy this year, Constable Neil Horne, is also the School Resource Officer for the Vernon North Okanagan RCMP.

He said the program gives kids from the Southern Interior, all the way from Osoyoos up to Salmon Arm, an opportunity to hear from first responders and law enforcement personnel.

“The whole purpose of the academy is to give them a little taste of what RCMP depot training is about, even what police training, in general, is about, and to impress upon them [the idea] of being a troop,” said Horne, adding that a big focus of the program is teamwork.

“Having all these different skill sets from their own [lives], coming together and being able to work together as a cohesive unit to solve problems and to learn about what the day to day stuff and different units of police departments are all about.”

Horne said the days start at 5:30 and can run until 10 p.m. During the course of the day, the students will participate in a number of drills and a range of basic police training.

“We give them some basic skills about policing in terms of investigations, note taking, search and seizure. We talk about principles of law, we talk about the Charter of Rights, kind of go through that and give them the education piece,” Hone explained.

“Then we throw them, obviously with guidance, into small groups with RCMP members as their facilitators and we’ll do a mock scenario of a police incident. That police incident could be anything. Last night we did a break and enter, so we did a whole break and enter scene from identifying the individual, arresting them, taking a witness statement, seizing evidence, [taking] fingerprints.”

The participants are also being taught how to write reports to Crown counsel and are participating in mock trials.

“There’s a huge gambit of stuff put together to give them a taste of what a career in policing can be like,” added Horne.

The students were selected to the academy through an application process. Four participants spoke with Vernon Matters about their involvement and why they chose to enroll.

“It’s a great stepping stone to get where I want, and need to be, in my life, which is in the RCMP,” said 16- year-old Colleen Knull, a student from A.L .Fortune Secondary in Enderby.

“I always had an interest in law enforcement, so when I saw this program I thought it would be a really great opportunity to come out and see what depot would be like and just get some experience,” said Dylan Morris, a 16-year-old from Seaton Secondary in Vernon.

“Ever since I was a kid, I couldn’t see myself working in an office or anywhere else. I’ve always seen myself wanting to become a RCMP officer or a conservation officer when I’m older. I believe the role they play is quite vital,” said 17-year-old Blake Pomeroy, a student at Rutland Senior Secondary in Kelowna.

“I’ve always been drawn to a career that helps people and I feel like this is probably one of the best ones that could help me achieve that,” said Jordyn Kisilevich, 17, from Clarence Fulton Secondary in Vernon.

Some of the participants are using the academy as an opportunity to explore possible career paths in law enforcement, though others had desired goals already in mind.

“I feel like the K9 Unit would be something that I would focus my attention on,” said Knull, who also mentioned that she has family members who have served as police, which also inspired her to explore the opportunity.

“I haven’t set a solid [career path] plan yet, as I’m going into this with an open mindset and knowing that there’s going to be a lot of branches I can go off once I complete depot. I don’t have to technically stay as a RCMP officer; I could be in K9 or highway patrol, there’s so many options that I could do,” said Pomeroy, adding that at this point, it’s best he keep his options open.

Along with learning about law enforcement practices, the students said the teamwork-focused academy is very enjoyable and important part of the work.

“Getting to talk to new people, learning how to be a team and how to work as one instead of working against everyone else. It’s quite an amazing experience,” Pomeroy remarked.

“I really enjoy the unity and the team aspect of it all: a whole bunch of strangers coming together as a troop and being in synch with just about everything, holding each other accountable. That’s definitely one of the highlights,” said Kisilevich.

The four students who spoke with Vernon Matters also noted that the work they’re doing at the academy is tiring, but also rewarding, and all agreed they are interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement.

“Helping someone out and realizing you’re making their day better, or you’re improving society in any way, you sleep better at the end of the day knowing that you’ve done something to benefit [others],” said Pomeroy.

Constable Horne added that a lot of the students have interest in the law aspects of the academy programs and may go on to take criminology courses or study law, while others are more focused on actual policing and enforcement.

“All those interests that they have and curiosities they have, this youth academy really helps them get that exposure to it and be ‘Okay, is this the career path for me?'” said Horne.

“I would say a good two-thirds are very interested in policing specifically and the rest are [interested in pursuing] criminology, possible lawyer stuff, law, conservation and other enforcement units.”

A student at the Jean Minguy Memorial RCMP Youth Academy speaking in front of his peers as part of a note-taking lesson (photo by Liam Verster / Vernon Matters)

The academy is also bringing in special presenters throughout the course of the week to educate the students on specific branches and units in the RCMP and the roles they play.

On Wednesday morning, Sgt. Brenda Winpenny of the B.C. Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (CFSEU-BC) spoke with the students about gangs, as the unit is the province’s anti-gang agency.

Winpenny outlined the mandate of the CFSEU-BC, provided some examples of the work done by the combined forces unit, spoke about the history and the gang landscape in B.C, explained that there were several units that make up the CFSEU-BC, and told the students about the work being done in prevention and awareness, including the B.C. RCMP’s ‘End Gang Life’ campaign.

Speaking with Vernon Matters, Winpenny said it was great to have the opportunity to speak with youth interested in law enforcement about the work the CFSEU-BC does.

“They had some amazing questions about how we developed the ‘End Gang Life’ [public service announcements] and the initiative itself and what can they do to help and participate as far as ensuring youth and young adults stay out of the gang lifestyle,” said Winpenny.

“It was very engaging and I’m extremely happy to be here today.”

Sgt Brenda Winpenny explains to students at the Jean Minguy Memorial RCMP Youth Academy the work done by the B.C. Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (photo by Liam Verster / Vernon Matters)

Winpenny was also pleased to see so many kids interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement and taking the opportunity to participate in the Academy.

“The youth camp here in Vernon is a fabulous venue for the kids to get exposure to all the different avenues or careers they can have in policing,” said Winpenny.

“It’s something I wish I had when I was younger prior to my interest in joining the RCMP, and I think it’s wonderfully run. It gives the kids the exposure to all the different jobs or different career paths they can take. They were so extremely engaged and asked amazing questions, which tells me there’s an interest and they have an interest in making a difference in their communities. It’s very encouraging and I would support anyone wanting to go forward in a career in policing.”

Winpenny added that CFSEU-BC is an inter-agency unit comprised of members from various backgrounds and units, and that some of the youth in the academy may pursue a route that leads them to be involved in the anti-gang task force in the future.

The academy welcomed the students to the Military Camp on Sunday, May 8, and the kids will graduate the program on Saturday, May 14. There will be a small ceremony at the Vernon Military Camp to mark the graduation.

by Liam Verster

RCMP Academy teaches youth about law enforcement

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