RCMP Academy, Depot Division
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RCMP Academy, Depot Division (commonly known as "Depot"; pronounced [ˈdɛpoʊ] not [ˈdipoʊ]) has been providing police training to Royal Canadian Mounted Police "cadets" since its establishment in 1885. The facility is located in the northwest part of Regina, Saskatchewan, near the airport, and consists of several buildings.
In the RCMP's early days, Depot had a full horse stable and employed veterinarians. Horsemanship is no longer part of the cadets' training since 1966, and the few horses still at the Academy are for ceremonial purposes only.
After the long recruitment process, successful candidates are scheduled to attend the Academy and begin the Cadet Training Program. Cadets are grouped together in what the force calls "troops". A troop traditionally consists of 24 men and women who follow their entire 24-week training together. However, due to increases in the force's training requirements, maximum troop size has been increased to 32 cadets. The number of trainees at Depot varies in relation to the demands of the force. For the 2005/06 year, 41 troops were trained. This number rose to 56 for the 2006/07 year and is scheduled to increase to 62 for 2007/08.
Following tradition, the RCMP still has their trainees sleep in dormitories. The entire troop sleeps in one large room (with exception of female cadets, who sleep in different dorms from the men).
Depot is the only location where the RCMP trains its cadets. The only possible rare exceptions are Mounties trained at an Ottawa region facility in the 1950s or 1960s. At that time, due to extensive hiring, Depot could not handle the overwhelming number of candidates. Therefore, the RCMP established the additional training facility in Ontario. This training centre, now closed, was located by the present Ottawa RCMP stables, where the horses of the RCMP Musical Ride are kept off-season. The buildings of the former Ottawa training centre have become the Canadian Police College, a Canadian government institution which offers continuing-education courses for currently employed police officers.
In addition to training new RCMP regular members, Depot has also been a major continuing-education centre for police in Canada, but is currently tasked primarily with the training of new members and other training is conducted elsewhere. It delivers updated and highly specialized training to experienced RCMP officers and to members of other forces from around the world who want to improve their knowledge.
With a heritage of over 100 years, the RCMP Academy carries a very good reputation in worldwide police training. Many Canadian municipal and provincial police forces hire police officers who graduated from the RCMP Academy. No one can join the RCMP as a regular member without completing the RCMP Academy's 24-week Cadet Training Program. Candidates who are graduates of the Ontario Police College or other such institution must undergo the complete RCMP training before transferring to the RCMP. However on occasion the RCMP will hire members from municipal police forces, those new members undergo a compressed version of cadet training, lasting weeks instead of months.
The RCMP Academy has altered its curriculum due to the social and economic changes of Canadian society; the school now focuses more on knowledge relating to the multiple facets of law enforcement than on military discipline. In the early 1990s, the six-month thorough military-style RCMP training was slightly modified to face the new make-up of trainees. Cadets are now 10 years older than their 1950s or 1960s counterparts; and decade after decade, the ratio of college and university-educated future Mounties keeps increasing. The higher maturity level of trainees requires fewer disciplinary actions and enables the instructors to focus on the very demanding requirements of modern police work.
[edit] Buildings at Depot
[edit] The Chapel
The oldest remaining building in Regina is the RCMP chapel, dating from the earliest establishment of the RNWMP as a guardhouse in 1885. It subsequently served as a mess hall and canteen and became a chapel in 1895. It was constructed in Ontario and moved by flat-car, steamer and ox team to Regina.
The wife of the police commissioner, Mrs. Herchmer, wanted a chapel for the force members, who were located two miles west of town. NWMP carpenters converted to the mess hall to a chapel, making the altar and pews themselves. The chapel was dedicated on December 8, 1895.
On each side of the altar is a stained glass memorial window, each portrays a member of the force. On the left is a constable in mourning; on the right is a trumpeter sounding reveille. The Memorial Project came about following the shooting of Constable Willis Edward Rhodeniser on the White Bear Reserve near Carlyle, Saskatchewan on August 26, 1939.
Two more stained glass memorial windows on each side wall near the front were dedicated on November 4, 1951. "The Resurrection" in the west window honours serving members and "The Nativity" in the east window honours ex-members of the force who gave their lives in World War II.
The chapel is one of the oldest Anglican houses of worship in the Northwest.
[edit] RCMP Centennial Museum
Originally established in 1933, the Museum operated in a number of facilities for its first sixty years. The Museum was officially opened on its present site in 1973 by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada, in honour of the RCMP's Centennial. The museum contains many artifacts relating to the colourful history and traditions of the RCMP. The museum will permanently close in October 2006 to prepare for the opening of the new RCMP Heritage Centre.
[edit] The Headquarters Building
The Headquarters Building, named for Commissioner A. B. Perry, built in 1913 and located on the original site of the headquarters of North West Mounted Police.
[edit] Applied Police Sciences Building
The APS building contains classrooms, one hundred seat theatre, specialized computer classrooms and various syndicate rooms.
[edit] Learning Resource Centre
This building has an extensive collection of law enforcement reference materials, an in-house automated catalogue, on-line connection to the University of Regina and the Regina Public Library collections, as well as several Internet workstations.
[edit] Old Gym
The building commonly referred to as the "Old Gym" is equipped with a self-defence gymnasium and 26-metre swimming pool.
[edit] New Gym
Now called the Fitness Centre, it includes a state of the art training room, complete with treadmills, steppers and various types of weight training equipment.
[edit] The Model Detachment
Opened in 1994, this is a replica of a modern working RCMP Detachment, complete with everything you would find in such a facility. It provides the main hub of training at the Academy.
[edit] The Town Site
Surrounding the Model Detachment, this provides for a more realistic and safe environment during practical simulation scenarios.
[edit] Centralized Training Complex
This building offers serving Members and outside agencies both modern classrooms and accommodations.
[edit] Learning Technology Centre
Equipped with a full video conferencing suite for distance learning or corporate communication, this building also contains creative service bureaus, that include video and photo studios, multimedia and graphics units as well as a print shop.
[edit] The Firearms Complex
The complex includes a 25-metre indoor range, a 100-metre indoor range and a 50-metre outdoor range, all of which have 16 positions. There are a number of modern classrooms as well.
[edit] Armourer's Shop
This building provides for the inspection and preparation of new firearms for issue; complete repair, reconditioning and maintenance of firearms; training on firearms maintenance and repair, quality assurance of ammunition; consultation services in the field of small arms and ammunition; testing of bullet-proof vests and material and warranty services for many firearms manufacturers.
[edit] The Police Driving Unit
Spread around Depot, it includes a large modern vehicle fleet as well as six 4x4 vehicles.
[edit] Drill Hall
Built in 1929 as a Riding School, it now provides for the teaching of foot drill and crowd control. It is also used for many social functions including Troop Graduations and Regimental Balls.
[edit] Medical Treatment Centre
The centre contains a health clinic, infirmary with several beds, treatment and therapy rooms. It has a full time staff of medical personnel, including a Medical Doctor, Nurse, Psychologist and Physiotherapist.
[edit] RCMP Heritage Centre
Scheduled for opening in May 2007, the RCMP Heritage Centre is a multi million dollar national museum.
