RCMP Corporal Trent Cleveland holds up the framed keepsake of the IACP award.

By Lori Larsen

Wetaskiwin/Camrose RCMP Unit Commander of Wetaskiwin Integrated Traffic Unit Corporal Trent Cleveland is at the top of his game as a 13-year (as of September 8) member of the RCMP, and was recently honoured with the  International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) 2021 40 Under 40 Award.
This award program is designed to recognize 40 law enforcement professionals under the age of 40 from around the world, who demonstrate leadership and exemplify commitment to their profession.
Cleveland, previously of Killam RCMP, was nominated for the award by Killam RCMP Constable Jake Rains.
As the only RCMP member on the IACP 40 Under 40 list this year, Cleveland said he is honoured and proud to have been selected.
Cleveland, a home-grown boy, began his career with the RCMP 13 years ago, with his first posting in Fort Vermilion.
“My first choice was Nova Scotia, then British Columbia, then Alberta. So when they told me I was posted to Fort Vermilion, I was like, ‘There’s a Fort Vermilion in Alberta?’”
He completed three years’ service in Fort Vermilion, with a stint in La Crete (Enhanced), where he was assigned the duty of building it to a two-member detachment. In 2011, he was transferred to Camrose until 2014. “I purchased a home in Camrose and spent two-and-a-half years policing Camrose County.”
In 2014, Cleveland was transferred to Wetaskiwin until 2017, when he was moved out to Killam Detachment as Acting Sergeant (Detachment Commander).
In 2018, Cleveland was then asked to go to Coronation/Consort detachments, where he was tasked with amalgamating the two detachments.
Returning back to Killam Detachment in 2019 and having successfully amalgamated Consort and Coronation, he was then asked to do the same with the Killam and Viking detachments (September 2018 until March 2019).
“This allowed the detachments to share resources,” he explained. “The Killam/Viking amalgamation was a project I completed for the RCMP Management Development  Program.”
Cleveland said that by amalgamating the two detachments (which still remained separate detachments), they are able to share resources, which resulted in large fiscal savings for the organization, but more importantly, benefitted the members by affording more time off and not always being on call.
“It balanced their personal and work lives,” said Cleveland, “Which, in turn, improves productivity.”
The overall well-being of the membership is important to Cleveland, who prides his leadership ability in ensuring that all members are recognized for the work they do and given opportunities to advance. “Members do good work and they need the recognition. They tend to get overlooked when we don’t recognize each other. It is important to build people up and it is meaningful when they get support and kudos from senior members.”
And that is something he aims at changing throughout the organization, with his own leadership roles.
“In my career, I have had really good management and leadership, but I have also had some really bad. So I have taken all the good things I learned and use it in my own leadership role. As for the bad, I learn what not to do in leadership.”
He said that the organization as a whole is implementing change in policing operations and leadership. “Change in a large organization such as RCMP can take a long time. But upper management is trying to streamline and looking at how to make the organization even better,” part of which, he explained, is exploring the effectiveness of advancement and promotion.
Cleveland said he never really planned on promoting, he really enjoyed being a constable in general duty. But because he wanted to make some changes, he felt it was time to start taking some steps, not just for his own career, but to make the Service better as well.
“My dad always taught me that things may not always work out the way you want at the time, but to just keep moving ahead.” Advice that has served Trent well, and taught him that despite some disappointments, moving forward is the key to success.
The other key to Cleveland’s hard-earned accomplishments is his dedication to community.
His notion to build a strong relationship between the police and the community not only keeps him grounded, but has been a huge asset for the communities he has served.
“It is always a team effort from administrative staff to sworn members to the community itself.
“I had a pretty blessed upbringing,” he smiled. “Being born and raised in Camrose, and my mom and dad always put us children first. They always had us involved in sports. My dad coached me in baseball and we (children) were always kept busy doing something, and that probably is why I ended up being a police officer.”
The idea of community was no doubt spurred from Cleveland’s strong family ties and an obvious commitment to serve their communities.
His brother is a police officer with Camrose Police Service, his sister a teacher living just outside of Camrose, and Trent’s wife is a nurse at St. Mary’s Hospital (Unit 4). They are raising their own four children (three boys and one girl), placing the same importance on family and community.
While in Killam, Cleveland, along with the other members of the RCMP detachment, built connections with the community through inclusive initiatives
“We started the annual pumpkin carving initiative for all children. They carve their pumpkins and bring them to the detachment, where they are put on display,” explained Cleveland.
Then for Christmas, the detachment encouraged children (schools) to do posters, which were in turn used as the detachment’s Christmas cards.
Besides encouraging schools and the youth to partner with the RCMP in community spirit, Cleveland said that other stakeholders, such as Victim Services, were very supportive.
“It is important to get out and talk to the community and other stakeholders and show them the positive side of policing, that we (police) are not just a uniform or badge. We, too, have families and we, too, are people.””
He is learning everything he can about his new position in traffic and admits traffic is quite a bit different then general duty, but is welcoming the opportunity to learn while implementing the same community connectivity.
“I started this program of handing out fast food coupons (donated from participating businesses) to drivers who are making good driving decisions.
“Traffic tends to have a negative image by the public. And, yes, there are expectations to conduct traffic stops and hand out violation tickets, but it is still important to stay community based.”
As for the IACP award, Cleveland is honoured to have been recognized, not only by the organization, but by a fellow member of Killam detachment.
“That is the most rewarding. The award is more about leadership, what I was doing in the community to build members up.”
The 40 Under 40 award isn’t the first accolade Cleveland has received in recognition for his outstanding commitment to the betterment of his Service, but also community. He has also been the recipient of the Scott Burko Memorial Award for his part in the RCMP Supervisory Development Program, and was recognized for his remarkable contributions by the community of Killam during a Community Recognition Night hosted by Camrose MLA Jackie Lovely.
The Commissioned Officer in charge of Eastern Alberta District Chief Superintendent Reimer has also honoured Cleveland with a certificate of appreciation (Honours and Recognition), along with a coveted Challenge Coin for his dedication and contribution to the Eastern Alberta District.
Cleveland’s own personal mandate, when it comes to leadership, is to ensure all the members succeed at whatever their passion is within the organization, whether it be in leadership, general duty, traffic or one of the many divisions.
“When I got into a supervisory role, I really felt it was important to highlight the human aspect of policing–to get involved in the community, attend community events, conduct townhall meetings. Let the community know we are part of the community, too.”
Forward thinking, growing the organization and the individual members, and taking policing to a whole new level are what makes Cleveland an exceptional leader and a valuable asset to the policing community.

Derek Lefsrud of Viking knew the history about this truck, as it bounced around the family for many years. It was mostly used around the farm or for hauling goods back and forth to town.

By Murray Green

Derek Lefsrud of Viking owns a 1947 Ford truck.
“My uncle Milton had this truck on the farm and he fixed it up so it would drive. I drove it around and then I found the original motor for it. I fixed everything from under the frame and slowly put it together. I had to buy a two-ton truck to get the right grille. I bought another half-ton to use as parts,” explained Derek.
“I wanted this truck, because you don’t see very many around. I haven’t seen another one at a car show,” he added.
The last year Ford trucks employed 1941 body designs was 1947. Trucks were the first civilian vehicles to come back after the Second World War because they were the workhorses needed to help rebuild the economy.
“Finding all of the parts was the hardest thing to do. It was almost impossible. In 1947, it was a one-year-only model body style and not very many were made right after the war,” Derek said.
For 1947, the macho workman’s truck styling continued with little change. This design would be short lived, because for 1948, Ford ramped up its design team and started production on the F-series pickups–the truck that would one day become one of the best-selling American-made automobiles in U.S. history.
“Last winter, I overhauled the motor, transmission and frame. I drive the truck back and forth to the farm. I will slowly work on it some more, probably all of the body work and add the new grille. I went all the way to Saskatoon to find parts for it,” Derek said.
“One farmer whom I worked for said he knew the guy who owned it new and it was just down the road. Milton’s brother got the truck from him and then his other brother got it and now I have it,” shared Derek.
“It sat in the shed for a few years. Now that I have the truck, I want to keep it–keep it in the family. In restoring it, I went all original as much as I could. The motor is the original flathead 21 stud, V8 engine out of the two-ton truck and Strebs in Camrose rebuilt it for me,” concluded Derek.
While competitors Chevrolet and Dodge were slow to adopt integrated fenders and headlights, Ford did so in a single sweep. The new truck cab had full-width fenders with lights embedded in the catwalk area between the fenders and grille. The grille itself was a waterfall design which was painted in a contrasting color.
A year after consumer production resumed in 1947, Ford leveraged that knowledge to provide even more innovations for its customers.
FUN FACTS
The new trucks were introduced in late 1947 (going on sale January 16, 1948). Standard features included ashtray, glove box and driver-side sun visor, which was unusual on trucks at the time. Options included the “See-Clear” windshield washer (operated by foot plunger), passenger-side windshield wiper and sun visor, and passenger-side taillight.
After the 1947 model year was introduced, a completely new design was planned, which could appeal to various applications, extending further than just having a single purpose. It was similar to the short 1946. Visual differences included the removal of the red accents from the grille and the two small lights located just above it. Ford began titling 1947s in February 1947. For the first few weeks, the 1947 model was identical to the 1946. Ford then restyled the body slightly, first by moving the parking lights from above the grille to below each headlight. Exterior moldings were changed from grooved to a smooth design. A new hood ornament with a blue plastic insert was installed. A new hubcap design became available in March. The interior dash colour was changed from red accent to gold. By September, the roof-mounted antenna was moved to the cowl. Horns were moved in front of the radiator from the engine compartment. The final 1947 models were titled in November.