WIIKWEMKOONG—Community Services Officer Jamie Peltier is no stranger to the students of Wiikwemkoong High School, in a good way, as even before being officially named to the community services post, he could often be found at the high school mixing with the students, having lunch or just hanging out.
The mission is simple—make connections with youth in the community in a non-confrontational or adversarial venue.
It is clear from the reception Constable Peltier received during his presentation with the students in the gymnasium last week, part of the Police Week celebrations being observed by Wikwemikong Tribal Police Services—that he is highly thought of. The easy interchanges between the uniformed officer and the students were completely unaffected and natural thanks to that underlying familiarity.
Constable Peltier informed the students that he has applied for funding for a number of students to be able to work with the police service this summer. The usual ad hoc “ride along” program WTPS once utilized to engage with youth has been excluded from what WTPS can do under its mandate from the provincial and federal governments. The new funding would help fill that gap.
Specific details on the program will become available should Constable Peltier’s funding application come to fruition.
In the meantime, Constable Peltier had a booth set up outside the high school in Wiikwemkoong where students could stop by and ask any questions they might have about police work and a career in law enforcement.
