TUKTOYAKTUK
Darcie Bernhardt, Tuktoyaktuk's first RCMP aboriginal pre-cadet, says she's looking forward to spending her summer job shadowing officers in her community.

Darcie Bernhardt is the first person from Tuktoyaktuk to participate in the RCMP's Aboriginal Pre-Cadet Training Program. The 20-year-old will spend eight weeks on the job with officers in her community. - Photo courtesy of Bill Mooney

"I think mostly just being able to experience all this and learn the general duties of police officers," she said.

Bernhardt, 20, said she joined the Aboriginal Pre-Cadet Training Program after hearing about it earlier this year.

The program began in 1996 and is available to aboriginal youth between 19 and 29 years old, according to information from the RCMP.

About 470 participants have gone through the program and an average of half of them later applied for jobs. Nearly 50 have since become officers and an additional 20 have other jobs within the RCMP.

Bernhardt spent the first three weeks of the program at the RCMP's Depot Division in Regina, Sask., doing everything from physical training to learning defensive tactics.

Sgt. Bill Mooney, Tuk's detachment commander said Bernhardt will spend the next eight weeks alternating between day, evening and weekend shifts with different officers, called field mentors.

"She'll basically go onto a shift that will mirror another member's shift," he said. "By working shifts, she'll enhance that knowledge and that feeling of working in an unpredictable environment."

Bernhardt said the experience will help her determine whether a career as an RCMP officer is for her.

"I think that it just gives you a head start if I were to consider to do this as a full time career," she said.

Mooney said giving Bernhardt the opportunity to explore policing as a profession is the program's ultimate goal.

"It will give her a better idea if that's the kind of career she wants," he said.

Bernhardt's duties will include a variety of different components, Mooney said. In addition to job shadowing and learning about administration and paperwork, she'll also be helping facilitate community activities.

Mooney said she will help deliver information sessions on the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse to a youth fitness group called Tuk Power.

She will also assist officers with safety information, such as road and all-terrain vehicle safety and water and boating safety.

"She's going to get a taste of what police work is," Mooney said.

Bernhardt said she began her job last week and has mostly been accompanying officers on patrol. She said she enjoys seeing the bond officers develop with some residents.

"Seeing the connection with the people and officers, I just like the interpersonal relationships," she said.

Bernhardt said she hasn't yet decided her next steps once the program is done. She earns $24 an hour performing duties and she said she plans to save as much as she can.

"I think I'm just going to save as much money and maybe travel, or else consider this is a career," she said. "Nothing is officially planned, though."

Mooney said in addition to being a recruiting tool, the program also gives young people a chance to be active members of their hometowns.

"I'm hoping even if she doesn't choose it as a career, she'll pick up the importance of being involved in the community," he said. "She'll pick up a lot of life skills, too, along with policing skills."

Mooney said having a young person from Tuktoyaktuk wearing a uniform and assisting RCMP is great motivation for other youth as well.

"There's pride that goes along with what she's doing," he said.

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