L-R: Cst. Cameron Lee, Chief Lorne Blumhagen, and Cst. Jesse Perry, all of Lacombe Police Service, at an Edmonton Police Service training graduation ceremony last week. (Supplied)

By Josh Hall | @Vancan19

ready to serve

Two recruits join Lacombe Police Service following EPS training

Mar 12, 2024 | 11:05 AM

Forty-nine police officers graduated late last week in the Alberta capital after training with Edmonton Police Service, and two of them are with Lacombe Police.

This was the first of several large recruit classes planned over the next few years to meet current demand, EPS notes. The class also includes three canine teams.

Headed to Lacombe are Constables Cameron Lee and Jesse Perry.

“As we are a small agency, it is impractical to provide all the extensive training required for a new police member in-house due to the vast array of training requirements and training staff involved,” explains Lorne Blumhagen, Lacombe’s Chief of Police.

“Although these recruits receive their foundational training in Edmonton, when they return to Lacombe they continue their field training for an additional five months under the supervision of a qualified Field Training Officer, all while remaining on probation for an 18-month period that extends past the foundation and field training period.”

full budget in the spring

Blackfalds town council passes interim operating and capital budgets

1h ago

Missing: Nisa Pakyurek, 15, of Parkland County

1h ago

$39.4 million

Town of Ponoka approves 2026 interim budget

1h ago

The training has been offered by Edmonton to smaller rural municipalities for decades, though the partnership with Lacombe dates back to 2017. Ten members in Lacombe have now gone through the training in Edmonton.

Lacombe Police currently employs 23 police officers, plus two members who work with the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT), and additional civilian support staff, and communications and dispatch support.

“At this time, the Lacombe Police Service is fully staffed,” says Blumhagen. “As positions become open, our applicants go through an extensive screening process to ensure they meet all provincial requirements in alignment with all police agencies in Alberta.”

In addition to their graduation, Cst. Perry received the Trainer’s Choice Award, selected by training staff members. Criteria for this award includes strong leadership skills, concern for the need of others, cooperation, a ‘can do’ attitude that contributes to team success, and being someone who doesn’t seek recognition.

Cst. Cameron received the Officer Safety Award, presented to the recruit with the highest combined marks in both firearms and tactics training, displaying exemplary proficiency, both written and practical.

One other Lacombe member, Cst. Naman Arora, is going through training in Edmonton and will graduate in June.

Also graduating was Cst. Michelle Pochapsky, who is from Didsbury.