By Hayley Ferguson

Police Cadets

Medicine Hat Police hoping to bring new life to auxiliary officer program

Nov 21, 2019 | 8:53 PM

Medicine Hat, AB – The Medicine Hat Police Service has had an Auxiliary Police Program for over 20 years, but they’ve decided to bring some new life into it.

While doing their recruiting for their 2020 cadet program, Chief Andy McGrogan said they had a group of about six 19-year-olds that showed promise.

“They were just super talented and eager people. But they are too young. So how do we keep them engaged? Because we think they could all be good members one day,” he said.

The new auxiliary constables have already begun their training in areas like criminal law, basic firearms familiarization, and use of force.

McGrogan says that the auxiliary constables will also be assigned an officer coach who is currently in the Patrol section.

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With that coach, the auxiliary constables must attend at least one 12-hour shift a month.

The police service is hopeful that these coaches will act as mentors until their younger partner can apply for the next Cadet class.

“By bringing them into the auxiliary program we have a really good chance to retain them and hiring them in the future,” McGrogan said. “And it reinvigorates the program.”

The 6 new auxiliary constables are expected to be sworn in mid-December.

This will bring the program up to approximately 10 members.