It was a busy weekend for nearly two dozen students who participated in the third annual RCMP Youth Cop Camp.
The annual program took place at Mount Boucherie Secondary School from May 3-5, wrapping up with a graduation ceremony on Monday, May 6.
According to the RCMP, all 22 high school students who took part completed the program and were joined by local leaders, including a Westbank First Nation elder and West Kelowna mayor Gord Milson, for Monday’s graduation.
"We reached our goal of strengthening the bond between the RCMP and Indigenous communities, and encouraging more Indigenous and non-Indigenous people to consider a career in the RCMP,” said Cst. Rohel Williams, who runs the program alongside Sherri Lund.
Williams, a member of the First Nationals Policing Unit, said he was “very proud” of the students who took part.
“I'm really passionate about this event. It was a great chance for the students to learn directly from experienced RCMP officers who come to the camp to share what they know,” he explained. “I think the camp helps break down barriers between the youth, their communities and the RCMP."
The camp offered the kids a chance to get a closer look into many aspects of policing, including the canine team, forensic identification, report writing, the tactical team, water safety and more.
The RCMP says it was a valuable experience for the participants to get a direct look at what local officers do every day.
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