Safety Officers graduate from ACC

Earlier today in Brandon, Assiniboine Community College held a graduation ceremony for its First Nation Safety Officer and Community Safety Officer programs.

Twenty-nine students celebrated their achievements, including 19 graduates from the First Nations Safety Officer (FNSO) program and ten graduates from the Community Safety Officer (CSO) program. Both of the programs rolled out in January 2016 and this session is the fifth ACC has delivered. This particular course offering started on September 6.

With the discontinuation of the Band Constable Program that was established in the 1960s, ACC offers provincial approved mandatory training for First Nations and Community Safety Officers. The programs provide avenues for specialized training for First Nation communities that face unique public safety needs.

ACC partners with communities across the province. “We pride ourselves in partnering and providing relevant training within First Nation communities,” said Karen Hargreaves, Dean of Health & Human Services.

These officers will be responsible for crime prevention, enforcing band bylaws and some specific provincial laws. They will work closely with local law enforcement agencies.

“This training provides qualifications, mandated training, proper equipment and some legal authority to the officers,” said Jack Ewatski, an instructor for the program. “It also helps with uniformity of these positions throughout the province.” Ewatski is a former Chief of Police for the city of Winnipeg, and has more than 36 years of policing experience.

The FNSO graduates are from First Nations communities across Manitoba and most of the ten CSO graduates are from various Métis communities.