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Grande Prairie Police Service holds official swearing in ceremony for first chief

April 22, 2024, Grande Prairie, Alta. – On April 19, the new Grande Prairie Police Service (GPPS) welcomed their first police chief in an official swearing-in ceremony. Blue Line was in attendance for the city’s historic occasion.

In early 2023, Grande Prairie’s city council voted to create a municipal police service, which will phase out the RCMP over five years. Dwayne Lakusta was hired as the first chief of police and officially started in August 2023. Before they can commence their duties, a chief must take an Oath of Allegiance and Office, swearing to fulfill their role diligently, faithfully and to the best of their ability. During Friday’s ceremony, Lakusta took the oath and received a prayer and blessing from Elder Barb Goodswimmer.

In his remarks, Lakusta shared that he is acutely aware of the responsibility that rests on his shoulders as chief, and he is committed to upholding the values of integrity, professionalism and accountability that are the foundation of the law enforcement profession. His top priority will always be the safety and well-being of the city of Grande Prairie, and he will ensure the Grande Prairie Police Service operates with the highest standards of “excellence and fairness”.

Lakusta’s vision for GPPS is one of innovation and community partnerships, and he believes its success will hinge on the collaboration of every police officer and staff member.

“Building a police service from the ground up is no small feat. It requires dedication, innovation and an unwavering belief in the power of our community. We live in a rapidly changing world and we must evolve to meet the demands and respond to emerging trends. We must embrace innovative technologies, adopt best practices and continuously strive for improvement in all aspects of our operations,” said Lakusta. “I want to thank my team for the dedication, commitment and enthusiasm to build a new service. I’m fortunate to be surrounded by a group of true professionals who work tirelessly to build our service in short order. The people who have joined me on this journey have taken tremendous steps in a very short period of time to accomplish several milestones. I also want to thank our partners with the RCMP who continue to police during this transition. The detachment is committed to protecting the community while working with us to ensure an effective transfer of command. Thank you to each of the remaining RCMP members for your dedication to public safety in the city of Grand Prairie. Also note that we are hiring.”

Lakusta shared a heartfelt thank you to those who have supported him in his journey, including family, colleagues, friends and mentors. “Your unwavering support and belief in my abilities have been the driving force throughout my career, and for that, I am forever grateful.”

Blue Line was able to spend a few days in Grande Prairie with the new police service, speaking with each of the original eight sworn members. You will find the full story in the July/August 2024 issue.