RANKIN INLET - Adrian Pilakapsi of Rankin Inlet was among the first group of aboriginal community constables to graduate from the RCMP training academy in Regina, Sask., this past month.

Special Const. Adrian Pilakapsi is on the job in his hometown of Rankin Inlet after graduating from the RCMP training academy in Regina, Sask., this past month. - Darrell Greer/NNSL photo

The graduates are armed, with arresting powers, and will carry the rank of special constable in their communities.

Their primary focus is to engage in active crime prevention, and build positive relationships between their communities and the RCMP.

They will also provide tactical, enforcement and investigational support to other RCMP officers if needed.

The new constables are expected to bring linguistic, cultural and community skills and knowledge that go beyond what's taught at the academy.

During a press conference in Iqaluit to introduce Pilakapsi, Supt. Howard Eaton said the RCMP is very excited about having him join the force.

He said Rankin is a busy detachment and Pilakapsi's presence will aid both the local detachment and the community in general.

"Adrian (Pilakapsi) brings his cultural and language skills with him, and now he's got the police training behind him as well," said Eaton.

"The people in Rankin will feel very lucky to have him there, and the members will feel the same way too.

"My concern is these people will get burned out from being the go-to person if anyone wants to talk to a police officer in Inuktitut, night and day, 24/7, so they're going to have to be quite disciplined.

"Overall, they'll be a real bonus to the community."

Pilakapsi, 24, said he's wanted to be a police officer for as long as he can remember.

He said he likes to stay busy and being a special constable is a good job for his personality.

"You get to help the regular RCMP members and your community in this position," said Pilakapsi.

"I enjoy translating for them when people are speaking Inuktitut on a call, and I'm able to make things easier for everyone."

Pilakapsi said basic training was tough and he was fortunate to have good troop mates to help him along.

He said there were times when he wondered what he got himself into.

"There were days I had no idea what I was doing, but I stuck with it and I was amazed how far I made it on graduation day.

"I owed a lot to the help I got from my troop mates or I may not have been there.

"They were there for me throughout my training and I'll never forget everything they did for me."

Pilakapsi had planned to become a regular RCMP officer until he found out about the special constable program.

He said working in his home community appealed to him, and he was prepared for the possibility of having to arrest someone he grew up with.

"I really thought hard about that because I knew it would bug me, but it's your job and you have to do it.

"So you can't think about it too much.

"You just do what you're trained to do."

Pilakapsi said he's looking forward to working with youth in the community and focusing a good deal of his efforts on crime prevention.

He said he wants to be a role model and looks forward to interacting with youth in a positive manner.

"I'm looking forward to getting the message out to the youth in our community that they have the ability to realize their dreams, as long as they put their hearts and souls into it.

"If I can do it, they can do it."

Cpl. Peter Harris said it's important for the Rankin detachment to have an Inuit constable on staff.

He said Pilakapsi has lived in Rankin all his life, and he knows the people of the community and they know him.

"Adrian's fluent in Inuktitut, so many elders who don't speak much English will be more comfortable speaking with him," said Harris.

"Being here his entire life, he knows the problem issues in Rankin.

"His main focus will be dealing with community problems, schools and the elders.

"His presence will also be a benefit to us in that it will free us to work more on investigating crimes, while he deals more with the community aspects of policing."

Harris said Pilakapsi has the same authority as the regular officers.

He said the biggest difference is the fact he was hired specifically to work on community problems and crime prevention.

"Adrian's also there to back us up and should be looked upon by the community as a full-fledged officer.

"This kid wants to work, and work hard.

"He's very enthusiastic about his duties, and I've talked to a lot of people in the community who are very happy to have him here.

"He should be a solid addition to our detachment."

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