NBCC students reflect on time with MPF

For the past 8 weeks, six NBCC students were getting the education of a lifetime as they worked alongside members of the Miramichi Police Force. As part of their studies in Social and Protective Services program at NBCC Miramichi, graduating students have the opportunity to do a 8 week practicum with a police force. The Miramichi Police Force partners with the college, and chooses students based on interviews and background checks to work alongside officers for the practicum.

The students made a presentation today to the police force and the facility, relating their experiences during the practicum, and telling how it helped them. Over the two years of their studies, the students take courses on human behaviour, communication, criminology and more. But all of them said the things they saw on the job really opened their eyes, and made them see how important their training was, and how serious a job law enforcement is.

Students related tales of being involved with arrests of impaired drivers, drug searches, and one instance of a two women fighting over a dead snake and a bag of rocks. The students said they had never experienced dealing with people with addictions or mental issues, and said they learned a lot from the way the officers they worked with handled the situations with empathy and professionalism. One student said he really came to understand how important communication skills are, and what a big role each officer plays in the community. The students said the officers they were paired with treated them like part of the force from the first day they arrived, involving them in all aspects of the job.

The students prepared a humorous video about their experience with the MPF, making some jokes about riding bicycles on patrol, and about the marksmanship of some of the detectives. Chief Paul Fiander was sitting in the front row of the auditorium shaking with laughter at parts of the video. The students said the fun they had making the video, but the humour was just to deflect how serious their training was, and said that they realized that every day those officers got to work there is the potential to be in harm's way.

The student's even took the opportunity while presenting to the MPF and the staff to suggest ways the program could be improved. They all seemed like thoughtful and professional young men and women, and maybe someday they will serving Miramichi for real.