Recruits, including four Inuit, learned basic policing skills

Ten men and women are ready to join the ranks of the Kativik Regional Police Force as special constables, following their April 25 graduation from the First Nations special constable training program at Quebec's police academy, the École Nationale de Police du Québec.

As special constables, the new KRPF members will serve as peace keepers. Appointed by Quebec's minister of public security, they will perform most of the duties of regular KRPF members, who struggled to maintain order in Nunavik over the past year.

"Everyone, regardless of their age, gender or race, expects, and is entitled to expect, a safer society, with the delivery of an effective service from the police," Kuujjuaq mayor Larry Watt told the graduates, as he praised them for their courage. "And equally, police officers are entitled to the very same levels of respect and help from the community."

During their training, recruits learned basic policing skills, such as patrolling, breaking up violence, using force and writing reports.

Four of the new constables are Inuit from Kuujjuaq, Tasiujaq and Kangiqsujuaq.

Since its creation more than 10 years ago, the 54-member KRPF, which is supposed to be staffed and run by Inuit, has failed to recruit and retain more than a handful of Inuit constables, despite efforts to provide better wages, housing and other benefits.

A one-year extension of the KRPF's policing agreement with Quebec and the federal government, which should be finalized shortly, includes more money to train and pay police.

The success of the KRPF's plans to train and keep Inuit police is being carefully watched, because the federal aboriginal policing program officially ends next March, a Quebec government official said.

To beef up its ranks, the KRPF wants to start a cadet program to offer youth training and activities, which could prepare them for a career in policing.

A second training course for special constables is also planned for this spring at the police academy in Nicolet.

"By the end of June 2008, we will hopefully have added 20 more constables with basic training to our manpower," Epoo told KRG councillors at their last regional council meeting.

Epoo, who has not yet been officially sworn in, is also taking a university-level management course given by the Université de Sherbrooke, which all police chiefs in Quebec must take.