It’s one of Lethbridge College’s oldest student clubs and unless you’re a Criminal Justice or Conservation Enforcement student you probably know it’s name, but not what they do.
The Lethbridge College LEO Club, a part of Lions Clubs International, has been helping law enforcement students get community service experience since the ‘70s.
President David Peters explains how the club has kept going for so long.
“We bring a commitment to helping out the community. It’s one of the things that keeps driving the members to keep doing this.”
He said that with the shift towards community policing, law enforcement agencies are looking for people with experience with community service.
“We take these people who need to get out into the community and volunteer as one of the ways of getting employed, and we give them opportunities.”
The club recently just finished working the Clayton Allen Wine Auction fundraiser that’s held annually by the college.
Members helped out as servers and worked the valet parking for the event.
They also volunteer at the Lethbridge Lions Club annual Pig and Pumpkin festival at the Broxbrun Café which raises money to help students at north side schools.
Katie DeRuyck, vice president of student life for the LCSA, says the active volunteer work of the club helps the college’s reputation in the community.
“The LEO Club represents the Students’ Association very well in the community. They’re very active in volunteering.”
Peters says his experiences with the club have led him to taking on a leadership role.
“When I first started this, I kept having so much fun doing all these opportunities that it kept pushing me to keep going and going and doing more and more till now I’ve stepped up and I’m in the leadership position,” he said. “I know other people feel the sense of enjoyment as well.”
Club Treasurer Drew Crawford said he feels that being active in the club has helped him develop skills that future employers will be looking for.
“The leadership involved with it, the communication among other members in the group, those kinds of skills that law enforcement are really looking for. You really need those skills, it looks good when you’re getting hired.”
Past members have spoken fondly of their time with the LEO Club to current members.
“One person who I talked to quite recently who is currently working as an Alberta Sheriff at the Lethbridge Courthouse adamantly preaches about the LEO Club,” Peters said. “He was a member of the club when he was studying at the college and he will tell any Criminal Justice student about the experiences he’s had as a member.”
To learn more about the Lethbridge College LEO Club, you can contact them through the LCSA website or look for their display in the Centre Core.