The Killam RCMP Detachment recently filled the Sergeant position that has been open for quite some time, with Sgt. Andy Wetzstein, who arrived in Killam at the end of July and hit the ground running.
Shortly after Wetzstein’s arrival, Corporal Jeremy Houle transferred out to the Coronation Detachment, and Cst. Nate Hurlburt has also been transferred.
Wetzstein says that the corporal position at the detachment has been filled, and he expects to have a name within the next few weeks, and also says that the detachment will welcome a new recruit from Depot this fall.
Wetzstein comes to Killam from the Canmore Detachment, and has spent the first few weeks on the job getting to know the community and detachment.
He says it’s his first foray into rural policing.
Wetzstein was born in Edmonton, and grew up in Sherwood Park. He was in his third year of university, where he was taking a correctional service diploma, and working on his Criminal Justice major when his sister, an RCMP member in Grand Prairie, invited him out for a visit. He ended up going on a ridealong with her, and that led him to think about a career in policing. By 2006, he submitted his application to the RCMP and the rest is history.
He graduated Depot in 2008 and his first posting was in Hinton. “I’ve been lucky to stay in Alberta,” he says.
After four years of general duty in Hinton, he transferred to the Edmonton RCMP Recruiting Squad, spending the next six years there, and the last three as NCO/in charge, running the whole team.
Looking for more hands-on policing, Wetzstein transferred to Fort Saskatchewan where he was a Corporal and Watch commander. Each watch had a corporal and five constables, and the entire detachment has around 50 members.
After three years there, he transferred to Canmore, where he’s lived up until this summer.
He says Canmore was great for he and his wife’s love of hiking and camping, but adds that the city has a very high cost of living.
He started looking for new opportunities, and applied for the Sergeant position in Killam, which is also a promotion for him. For he and his wife, the move represents being closer to their families.
“I’m really big on trying new things, too, and wanted to experience rural policing.”
Wetzstein has already met with some local councils within the region, and has plans to meet with them all. He says, “My main priority will be reestablishing relationships with our communities. Our goal is to provide them with stability and open lines of communication.”
He’s been busy exploring the area, and getting out into all the communities. He and his wife have settled in Daysland.
Wetzstein says his focus for his role in Killam is to build community. He’s also hoping he can attract some experienced constables to the Detachment, saying he’d love to see a mix of new recruits and experienced officers.
He says the community and detachment have been extremely friendly and welcoming so far.
“Now it’s time to put our heads down and work hard.”
Leslie Cholowsky
Editor