14 police cadets from Medicine Hat, Lethbridge and Manitoba attend their graduation at Patterson Armoury (CHAT News photo by Brendan Miller)

By Brendan Miller

Cadets graduate from ‘intense’ police training program

Mar 17, 2023 | 4:42 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Fourteen police cadets graduated from their training program this afternoon at the Patterson Armoury.

In front of their family and loved ones the new officers receive their certificates and are now ready to begin their new careers upholding the law and serving the public.

The cadets come from Medicine Hat, Lethbridge and Manitoba and will soon be serving in their respective communities.

It hasn’t been an easy road getting to this point.

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The cadets had to complete a challenging 24-week police training program here in Medicine Hat.

Staff Sgt. Darcy Brandt says the cadets underwent extensive police training to learn skills like firearms, public safety, teamwork and conflict de-escalation.

“These 24 weeks of training that they have has been intense,” says Brandt.

“You know we start with them knowing nothing to make them into police officers and so the transition is pushing them every single day both physically, certainly mentally and building on their skillsets,” adds Brandt.

The cadets will now be hired by the Medicine Hat and Lethbridge police services, as well as the Manitoba First Nations Police Service.

Kanen Krushel will soon be a police officer here in Medicine Hat and says today is an exciting day for himself and his colleagues.

“I’m happy and proud of myself and the other 13 cadets that are with me standing up here today. So it’s been a long road, a long 24 weeks, both mentally and physically draining but we all worked as a team and pushed together and ultimately we ended up where we are today so I’m very proud of us all,” says Krushel

Kylie Weckend will join Krushel as Medicine Hat police ffficer and recalls her first day of the police training program.

“I still remember that day we all met up in the lobby at the police station. We were all kind of strangers for the most part and then as we progressed we became like brothers and sisters, so they’re probably the best friends I have in my life,” says Weckend.

During the ceremonies, city Chief Alan Murphy reminded the new officers to remember to stay human while serving members of the community.

Brandt says the cadets are well-prepared to serve as officers in their respective communities.

“We’re all proud. The training team we’ve had sleepless nights as well, just figuring out how to get them to this point and do the best we can for them so we’re extremely proud and we’ll be celebrating with them for sure,” he says.

And after all the blood, sweat and tears of the past 24 weeks these brave cadets are now ready to wear their blue uniforms proudly and begin their new careers on the police force.