Cop camp asks for city support

Ron Seymour 2010-10-26 Kelowna Daily Courier:
Kelowna taxpayers could help fund a police-run academy in Vernon that gives teens an idea what it‘s like to be an RCMP member.  Every spring, about 50 people, aged 16-18, spend at week at the academy where they learn about investigate techniques, the Criminal Code, self-defence, arrest procedures, and other policing matters.  A key goal of the youth academy, spokesman Terry Packingham told council on Monday, is to instil in the youngsters what he described as the RCMP‘s principles of respect, leadership, honest, integrity, and professionalism.  Some of the youngsters may be considering applying to police forces after they graduate from high school. We are looking for individuals that are on the cusp of making big career decisions," said Packingham, a retired RCMP member.

The academy, named for former Vernon RCMP member Jean Minguy, who drowned in Okanagan Lake, has been in existence for a decade. But funding has always been a challenge, with the $37,000 annual budget coming from a variety of variable grants, corporate support and donations.  Packingham is appealing for local governments throughout the Okanagan to help cover the academy‘s cost. Kelowna‘s share, based on population and the expectation that at least 12 young people from this city would attend the camp every year, would be $6,000.  "We support it in principle, but it‘s something we need to discuss during budget," Coun. Charlie Hodge said. The matter was referred to the 2011 civic budget deliberations, which will take place in late December. The City of Vernon has already agreed to provide $6,000 over three years to the academy, which operates on the army cadet base next to Highway 97.