A career in the RCMP is often not your typical 9 to 5 job. RCMP members in every detachment across the country provide 24/7 policing services to their communities. As such, police officers spend many of their shifts working at night or in the dark.

At Depot, cadets learn how to perform all aspects of their work in low-light conditions. To get used to operating in the dark, cadets will participate in a wide variety of scenarios at night.  These can range from simple traffic stops to property crimes to suspect searches. Cadets must be aware of how working at night impacts officer safety and how, even tasks such as notetaking, become even more challenging.

In addition to scenarios, cadets are also tested on their driving and firearms abilities in low-light settings. Depot’s ranges are equipped with strobes and police lights, adding to the challenge of shooting in the dark.

As many police officers will tell you, a flashlight is one of the most used tools they carry. At Depot, cadets must show they are proficient with using their flashlight in all sorts of settings, including when handling their sidearm.