Dean
Dr. Aruna Gore

The Law Enforcement Preparatory Program prepares individuals for entrance into law enforcement or public safety careers.  The program is designed to assist students in developing the necessary skills and academic knowledge required to become police officers with the RCMP.  It is aligned with the RCMP cadet selection requirements and training standards in order to ensure students success.  Throughout and once the students have completed the program, they will be encouraged to begin the process to become a police officer with the RCMP.  The graduates from the program bring language and cultural skills that will continue to enhance the RCMP’s relationship with Canada’s Aboriginal communities.

This certificate program is offered on full-time basis (5 days/week, 30 hours).  Students will engage in Problem Based Learning which focuses on group work, communication skills, critical thinking, and problem solving. A major emphasis of this program is active student participation.  Throughout the program, instructors will encourage students to become increasingly more self-directed and responsible for their own learning.  Students are expected to come to class well prepared for active participation in the classroom.

The student’s skills are enhanced through scenario training which includes investigating crime scenes, identifying & seizing evidence, conducting witness & suspect interviews, completing investigational & prosecution reports, preparing evidence for a judicial processes, morning physical training, elder teachings, pipe ceremonies, and community volunteer activities.

Course guides provide direction of learning in preparation, course activities and reflection of the content.  The instructor acts as facilitator and expert to promote an environment conducive for learning through activities such as guided discussion, debate, audio-visual presentation, group activities, skill building exercises and simulation.

In the final week of the program, students will travel to the RCMP Training Academy (Depot) in Regina, Saskatchewan.  This is an experiential field course where students will observe law enforcement practices.

 
Target Group
Those individuals that want to ensure their entrance into careers of justice, public safety and/or human services.

 
Partnerships

NVIT works with local businesses, justice-based organizations, lawyers, and the RCMP detachment in Merritt to ensure students have access to modern training facilities and practitioners in the field as instructors.

NVIT works in partnership with the Surrey School District’s (SD.36) Career Educations Principal to provide secondary students a head start to explore their law enforcement career aspirations.  NVIT offers one (1) LEPP course to SD.36 Grade 12 students who are interested in a law enforcement career.  This partnership allows secondary students to obtain dual credit at their local secondary school and NVIT.

The Justice Institute of British Columbia (JIBC) and Nicola Valley Institute of Technology (NVIT) have signed a Memorandum of Agreement to promote cooperative ventures between the two post-secondary institutions.  The five-year agreement will allow JIBC and NVIT to facilitate a block transfer of credits from NVIT’s Law Enforcement Preparatory Program into JIBC’s Law Enforcement Studies Diploma.  NVIT LEPP students with appropriate prerequisite qualifications can ladder from NVIT into the JIBC Law Enforcement Studies Diploma with 30 Credits of advanced standing.

The LEPP is a one year program designed to equip students with the knowledge which will assist them to:

•Write the RCMP Police Aptitude Test (RPAT) and other entrance exams;
•Apply for entry to law enforcement programs such as: RCMP, Aboriginal Policing, Correction Services, Security Services, Native Court Workers and Counsellors:and
•Continue studies within the vast law enforcement arena.