2005-2006

News Release

REF NO.: 3

SUBJECT: First class of diploma program in police studies set to graduate

DATE: September 2, 2005

Note to editors:

Media are invited to a weekend of events honouring the first graduating class of the diploma in police studies. On Friday, Sept. 2, there will be a graduation dinner held at City Hall (EB Foran Room) beginning at 7 p.m. Guest speaker for this event will be the province’s lieutenant governor and honorary chief of police, Dr. Edward Roberts. In addition, Memorial President Dr. Axel Meisen and Dr. Jim Black, Faculty of Arts, will bring greetings on behalf of Memorial University, and Tom Marshall, minister of the Department of Justice and the attorney general, will speak at this event.

On Saturday, Sept. 3, graduates will attend a graduation parade and swearing-in ceremony where they will be officially sworn in as Recruit Constables of the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary (RNC) at Field House, Westerland Road, on Memorial’s St. John’scampus. The parade and inspection will begin at 2:30 p.m.and conclude at 4:40 p.m. A reception will follow at The Rooms, third level, on Saturday evening starting at 5 p.m.

Memorial University began offering a diploma program in police studies at its St. John’scampus in the fall of 2004. The RNC and the university’s Faculty of Arts had collaborated to develop the post-baccalaureate program and in early 2004 the provincial government announced that it would, over three years, train 75 new RNC officers in the program. For the first time, RNC cadets have been trained in the province; in previous years cadets attended HollandCollegein Prince Edward Island.

The diploma in police studies is a partnership between Memorial University, the RNC and the Provincial Department of Justice.

Media agencies are encouraged to send representatives to these events.

- 30 -