The Sarnia Police Service has signed on four new cadets to undergo training at the Ontario Police College (OPC) in Aylmer.
The Police Services Board approved the recommendation to appoint Cody Simpson, Danielle Girard, Christopher Beauchamp and Steven Farlow during a special meeting Monday morning.
Chief Phil Nelson says they had to expedite the process because of timing.
"We have secured four positions at the Ontario Police College for training, so we've had to move ahead rather quickly," says Nelson. "The police services act says that the board will appoint cadets to undergo training and they'll undergo training for about the next three months. They have to be in the building here for some orientation at mid-April before they go down to the May 1 intake."
Nelson says the college only holds intakes three times a year.
"I have four retired officers I need to replace, so I need to get cadets trained up as officers as quickly as possible," he says. "That's why I asked the board if we could meet to get this approved."
Nelson says the individuals have already completed an extensive recruitment identification process.
"They come in, they're assessed and they go through a series of interviews. In fact, it's quite labour intensive," he says. "Compared to the day when I first started, it's nowhere near what it is nowadays. Detectives who are investigating major crimes are the ones doing the background checks in hometowns, they check with all the references. They actually do a home visit too."
The new cadets will be paid half of a first class constables wage and if they successfully complete the basic constable training program they will be sworn in as fourth class constables.
"As cadets they are civilian members. There's a savings of about $1,100 a month by sending a person down as a cadet for training," says Nelson. "Training at OPC gives them the basics. They do come back and are assigned to a coach officer for a minimum of three months before they're out being shadowed by other officers. It's a good part of a year before they're out on their own."
He says there is still a lack of female applicants.
"I need female officers," says Nelson. "Anytime I can find one that goes through the system, I scoop that person up."
Nelson says one recruit is from Sarnia, one is from Midland and two are from Petrolia.
