(Red Deer RCMP/Supplied)

By rdnewsNOW staff

Youth Academy

Red Deer RCMP provide high school students with hands-on policing experience

Dec 16, 2025 | 4:31 PM

Red Deer RCMP held its annual Youth Academy, an initiative put on by the Youth and Community Action Team to provide students with an in-depth look at the many different roles in policing.

They’ve been holding the event over the last five years, where local high school students, who may be interested in a career in policing, learn about everything to do with the profession.

“The day is highly rewarding for both the students and our members,” said Cpl. Prosser in a media release. “It gives us a chance to interact with community youth in a relaxed and fun setting, having some laughs and getting to know some of the future leaders and police officers amongst us.”

(Red Deer RCMP/Supplied)

Previously, students used to visit the detachment for multiple information sessions with different police units, but two years ago, the police shifted the program to be more hands-on. Now, the students spend time learning through scenario-based experience.

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“Hosting the Youth Academy is a highlight for our members every year, especially since we adapted it to make it a more hands-on and immersive experience,” Cpl. Prosser added. “You get to see the students work through solving a crime and figuring out who the suspect is, while meeting all the different police officers who work together to bring a case to a successful conclusion.”

The program is two days long and takes place each fall and winter, where each session is a one-day event. During each session, the students are put through a mock scenario.

Police say that throughout the day, students are exposed to the initial dispatch of a general duty member and are required to request assistance of support units such as Forensic Identification Section (FIS), and Police Dog Services (PDS), to help identify and arrest the suspect.

The students also run a police physical test and learn from members of the Operational Skills Maintenance Training unit on how to handcuff and safely arrest a suspect.

(Red Deer RCMP/Supplied)