For the past twelve years Lac La Biche resident Glenn Stuut has responded to car crashes, gone on patrols and conducted check stops with the local RCMP. Stuut isn’t an officer or one in training, but is one of three auxiliaries who volunteer their time with police.
The volunteers ride along with an officer during the day or at night and help police patrol the streets of Lac La Biche and respond to calls with the officers. For Stuut, volunteering his time is a way to interact with the community and build a lasting friendship with law officials.
“Even though we’re not considered fully-trained police officers, when we’re out in public, he’s my partner,” said Stuut, who works full-time at Lac La Biche Transport.
Local police officers say the volunteers are a great benefit to the community and to the detachment by assisting in keeping LLB safe and by lessening the manpower needed when responding to calls.
“They have to ride along with an officer which is a huge help to us. It could mean responding to a loud party complaint with only one vehicle with an officer and auxiliary in it instead of getting two cars to respond,” said Constable Chris Clark with the local RCMP who is responsible for the auxiliaries and helps train them.
All of the current auxiliaries work full-time and volunteer a minimum of eight hours per week. Although there are no restrictions on the maximum amount of hours they can ride along with officers, they are asked to complete a minimum of 160 hours of volunteer time throughout the year.
In order to become a police volunteer, auxiliaries have to go through four days of training before being qualified. The volunteers are taught by current RCMP officers in Edmonton and learn about different laws and procedures, and are even pepper sprayed during the training.
Being an auxiliary is a great stepping-stone for anyone who wants to become an RCMP officer, said Clark, and that is exactly what auxiliary Darrel Mitchell plans to do. Mitchell, who works full-time as a lifeguard at the pool and is a part-time guard at the police detachment, signed on as an auxiliary to experience being a RCMP officer.
“Being an auxiliary helps me get used to the job. I think if more people realize what the RCMP is all about-- that it’s a good career-- then I think more people would sign on,” he said, adding that Const. Clark has helped train Mitchell for his volunteer work and future as a potential RCMP officer.
“Without his training I wouldn’t be where I am right now,” he said.
The auxiliary program is a national one has been running for more than 16 years and has seen a lot of success over the years, according to local officers, who want to see the program continue and to see more auxiliaries help them patrol LLB.
“It’s not just helping us out but helps the whole community,” said Clark.
