Saint John police say they have seen an “overwhelming” response to their inclusion and diversity recruitment camp

More than 100 people have already expressed an interest in taking part, according to Chief Robert Bruce.

Bruce gave an update on the process during April’s Saint John Board of Police Commissioners meeting on Tuesday.

“We want people to experience what policing can offer, what it can do, and what you can offer to your community and what you can offer to policing,” Bruce told reporters after the meeting.

The one-day camp will give participants a chance to learn more about the opportunities available within the force.

It is geared toward underrepresented members of the community, such as women and visible minorities.

Police initially planned to host just one camp but are now looking at two or three given the overwhelming response.

Bruce said the inclusion and diversity recruitment camp is a two-fold opportunity for the police force.

“One is to engage people that never thought about policing before and what interest it is and any questions they have, but on a wider and more visionary scale, it’s to engage our community with the police,” he said.

“They’re going to go out, they’re going to talk to their friends, they’re going to talk to their neighbours, they’re going to talk to their family members. They’re going to talk about the positive experience they had at Saint John Police.

“As we continue to build trust, as we start to engage our more diverse neighbourhoods, sometimes where people are newcomers come from, police do not necessarily coincide with trust, and this helps build that trust as well.”

Applications for the recruitment camp are open until 4 p.m. on Friday, April 12.