Alberta's Top Employers (2025) Magazine - Flipbook - Page 36
36
SPONSOR CONTENT
ALBERTA’S TOP EMPLOYERS (2025)
The Edmonton Police Service offers diverse careers
O
ne day, when Luke
McRae was in high
school, an officer from
the Edmonton Police
Service (EPS) made a presentation
to his class. It was a proverbial
game-changing moment for the
young student. He decided then
and there that he wanted a career
in the service.
McRae joined the EPS 11 years
ago and has worked on patrol,
dispatch and, most recently, as
a school resource officer. “My
regular duties take me to schools
all the time,” says McRae. “I make
presentations, do hallway visits
and, if there is anything even
remotely enforcement related, I’m
involved.”
Career mobility is one of the distinguishing features of working as
an officer or a civilian with the service. “You can chart your own path
depending on your interests,” says
EPS chief Dale McFee. “It makes
you a more productive employee
and it’s one of the advantages we
have as a large employer.”
Officers begin their career in
patrol, either traffic or on foot.
From there, they can move in any
number of directions – to crime
scene investigation, recruiting,
community safety teams, the
canine unit, the tactical team or
to the various levels of detective
work.
“All these positions are very
rewarding,” says McFee. “When
you have the opportunity to do
three, four or five over the course
of your career, it keeps your
interest up and gives you a better
understanding of the community
we serve.”
The EPS also employs a wide
range of civilians, many with
advanced degrees. “We have
epidemiologists, economists,
mathematicians, all with their
doctorates,” says McFee. “It just
makes for a more fruitful and
successful organization.”
Cheryl Sheppard joined the EPS
10 years ago as a communications
advisor and is currently supervisor
of the media relations unit. “It’s
exciting as a female civilian in an
organization that has traditionally been male dominated,” says
Sheppard. “I’ve worked my way
up and have had organizational
support. The professional development I’ve participated in has
certainly helped build my skillset.”
you can chart your
own path depending on
your interests. It makes
you a more productive
employee and it’s one of the
advantages we have as a
large employer.
— Dale McFee
Chief,
Edmonton Police Service
Edmonton Police Service focuses on career mobility, encouraging its employees to chart their own path
depending on their interests.
The EPS provides mentoring
as well as in-house and external
training. “I’ve had mentors who
were well versed in public speaking and leadership,” says McRae.
“I can’t tell you how much it’s
helped. They’ve instilled in me the
confidence to make presentations
to all sorts of groups.”
McFee says the EPS recruits
officers and civilians from diverse
backgrounds, education and
professional experience. “We
prefer hiring out of colleges and
