WOMEN IN POLICING

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Edmonton Police Service Recruiting > About EPS > What to Expect the First Year

What to Expect the First Year

You have high expectations from a career in policing — we have high expectations of our recruits. But one of the greatest benefits of a career with the EPS is that a recruit is taught everything they need to know. So it doesn’t matter what your educational status is, as long as you meet the minimum requirements.

New constables will start as recruits in training. The majority occurs at the William Griesbach Training Centre in Edmonton. Training is divided into three phases or Blocks.

Block 1 (22 weeks) - A recruit can expect to spend about 50% of their time in the classroom, and 50% doing practical exercises. Working hours vary, but a recruit in Block 1 can expect that most of their working hours will be from Monday to Friday. Basic training involves a number of topics:

  • Criminal law
  • Report writing
  • Court procedure
  • Problem solving
  • Mediation
  • Conflict resolution
  • Physical training
  • Scenario training
  • Firearms training
  • Driver training
  • Arrest/control tactics

Block 2 (15 weeks) - Working hours will change to the patrol shift rotation of four days on, four days off. You’ll have many opportunities to spend evenings and weekends with your family and friends.

In Block 2, recruits are integrated into their patrol squad and partnered with a Police Training Officer (PTO). The PTO will oversee the recruit’s progress through live calls for service, report writing, and problem solving. The 15-week time period may be extended to 22 weeks if remedial training is required.

Block 3 (2 weeks) - Recruits review their experiences and prepare for graduation. Once the recruit constable has successfully completed Block 3 of their training, they will continue with regular patrol duties as a constable in their designated squad. The probationary employment period for new officers is 18 months.

You will begin your career in policing as a Patrol Services Constable working various shifts to provide vital front-line police service to the citizens of Edmonton. Your workday will always provide variety and will prove to be an experience of perpetual learning. You will use knowledge of your community along with your own creativity to solve problems for which there are no textbook solutions. After you gain experience in Patrol Services, you will likely be given the opportunity to work in the Communications Section and/or Arrest Processing Unit. Later in your career, you will have the opportunity to compete for specialised positions such as the Forensic Identification Services Section, Canine Unit, School Resource Officer Unit, Tactical Section and others. Your career will be diverse and will also grant you a level of authority, responsibility, and community status unsurpassed by most other occupations.