Acting Chief Constable Katie McLellan said she was “bursting with pride” as another of her sons joined the ranks of the Calgary Police Service (CPS).
May 17, 2024 marked the graduation day for 22 members from Class 256 of the Calgary Police Service (CPS) at the Mewata Armoury in Calgary.
The Calgary police were budgeted to add 290 staff (over four years) through the City of Calgary budget, including new officer recruits. The province also said they would fund an additional 50 officers for Calgary. Last year, during budget deliberations, Chief Mark Neufeld said that some of those provincially funded officers could be on the street by Q2 of this year. It’s not clear if these graduates are a result of that program.
A/Chief McLellan presented the recruit constables with their badges. Among the 22 graduates was Douglas McLellan, who would not only join his mom but also his twin brother Robert McLellan, and his retired father Andy McLellan, in serving and protecting citizens as a member of the Calgary police.
“There are so many emotions. You’ve got a hat on as a mom and a hat on as a police officer. (I) just couldn’t be more proud,” said A/Chief McLellan.
McLellan herself has served with the CPS for 33 years. Initially, she joined in 1987 after immigrating from Scotland and has since become a decorated officer known for her advocacy of social development as a way to prevent crime.
McLellan had left the force in 2013 to pursue corporate security for an International Oil and Gas exploration company as the Senior Security Advisor. In this role, she recognized how all aspects of public safety need to collaborate to create a foundation for community safety and this is one of her focuses now in 2024 working with her two sons.
“I think of me and my brother dressing up every Halloween, we would dress up as cops, going after mom and dad. As early as I can remember, we both wanted to be police officers,” said Const. Douglas McLellan.
“I was definitely influenced by my brother joining CPS. He was RCMP before, and I worked previous law enforcement with the Alberta Sheriffs on Sheriff Highway Patrol. But Calgary’s home and the Calgary Police Service is home, so that’s why I came back.”
Robert McLellan, twin brother to Douglas, said they were always close growing up and still are now. He and his brother did influence one another, to an extent, but their parents played a large role in their decisions.
“I think we’re similar, for sure. I think we try and put our best foot forward there and try to take after the footsteps of Mom and Dad. They’re so great,” said Robert.
Constable Douglas McLellan was assigned to District 1 community police station in Ramsay. His goal is to focus on community engagement and to make his family and the CPS proud.
“I think the whole service is family. We’re all brothers and sisters. We all represent each other. We are all there for each other in hard times and good times, celebrations and mourning,” said Constable Douglas McLellan.
