Sirens, Slammers and Service - A podcast for Female First Responders

🎙️ Behind the Badge | Ricki Pulls Back the Curtain on EPS Recruiting

1 h 13 min · 19. juni 2026
episode 🎙️ Behind the Badge | Ricki Pulls Back the Curtain on EPS Recruiting cover

Beskrivelse

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2026034/fan_mail/new] This episode of Sirens, Slammers and Service features Ricki Martin—known professionally as Ariana Martin—a 15-year member of the Edmonton Police Service who now works as a file manager in recruiting and selection. 🚔🔥 From squad room nicknames and tough academy days to frontline patrol and now helping shape the next generation of officers, Ricki gets brutally honest about what it really takes to earn the badge. We dive into the pressures of the academy, the mental grind of patrol work, and why fitness, coachability, and attention to detail can make or break a policing career. We also pull back the curtain on the EPS recruiting process—from APCAT and A-PREP to background checks, psych evaluations, rankings, and deferrals. Ricki explains what recruiters are actually looking for, the mistakes applicants keep making, and why transparency matters more than people think. This episode is packed with insight for anyone considering a policing career—but trust us, we didn’t give it all away. If you’re serious about EPS, this is one episode you don’t want to miss. 🎧🔥 Interested in a career with the Edmonton Police Service- joineps.ca [http://www.joineps.ca] Blue Line Fitness Testing is a premier law enforcement fitness testing and training center based in Edmonton. Specializing in helping individuals prepare for the physical demands of a career in law enforcement, we offer comprehensive fitness evaluations, specialized training programs, and classes tailored to meet the unique needs of our clients.  Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2026034/support] Want to support this podcast even more! Make a monthly subscription [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2026034/supporters/new] for only $3 a month here! Interested in becoming a first responder? Reach out to learn more! Email - info@bluelinefitnesstesting.com Blue Line Fitness Testing [https://www.bluelinefitnesstesting.com] Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/bluelinefitnesstesting [https://www.facebook.com/bluelinefitnesstesting] Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/bluelinefitnesstesting/ [https://www.instagram.com/bluelinefitnesstesting/] LinkedIn - Nikki Cloutier  [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikki-cloutier/]

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Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2026034/fan_mail/new] This episode of Sirens, Slammers and Service gets real with Vanessa Williams, whose 13-year career in corrections took her from frontline units at Fort Saskatchewan to the tactical team—and eventually into training the next generation. 🚨🔥 We talk about what people don’t see: the reality behind the walls, the culture, the chaos, the lessons learned from working both male and female populations, and how becoming a parent completely changed the way she approached conflict and leadership. Vanessa opens up about tactical operations, the importance of fitness and communication, the highs of building strong teams—and the difficult decision to walk away from a career she truly loved in order to reclaim time with family. This episode is raw, honest, and packed with stories that pull back the curtain without giving everything away. If you’ve ever wondered what life in corrections really looks like… this one’s for you. 🎧🔥 Blue Line Fitness Testing is a premier law enforcement fitness testing and training center based in Edmonton. Specializing in helping individuals prepare for the physical demands of a career in law enforcement, we offer comprehensive fitness evaluations, specialized training programs, and classes tailored to meet the unique needs of our clients.  Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2026034/support] Want to support this podcast even more! Make a monthly subscription [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2026034/supporters/new] for only $3 a month here! Interested in becoming a first responder? Reach out to learn more! Email - info@bluelinefitnesstesting.com Blue Line Fitness Testing [https://www.bluelinefitnesstesting.com] Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/bluelinefitnesstesting [https://www.facebook.com/bluelinefitnesstesting] Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/bluelinefitnesstesting/ [https://www.instagram.com/bluelinefitnesstesting/] LinkedIn - Nikki Cloutier  [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikki-cloutier/]

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episode 🎙️ Behind the Badge | Ricki Pulls Back the Curtain on EPS Recruiting cover

🎙️ Behind the Badge | Ricki Pulls Back the Curtain on EPS Recruiting

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2026034/fan_mail/new] This episode of Sirens, Slammers and Service features Ricki Martin—known professionally as Ariana Martin—a 15-year member of the Edmonton Police Service who now works as a file manager in recruiting and selection. 🚔🔥 From squad room nicknames and tough academy days to frontline patrol and now helping shape the next generation of officers, Ricki gets brutally honest about what it really takes to earn the badge. We dive into the pressures of the academy, the mental grind of patrol work, and why fitness, coachability, and attention to detail can make or break a policing career. We also pull back the curtain on the EPS recruiting process—from APCAT and A-PREP to background checks, psych evaluations, rankings, and deferrals. Ricki explains what recruiters are actually looking for, the mistakes applicants keep making, and why transparency matters more than people think. This episode is packed with insight for anyone considering a policing career—but trust us, we didn’t give it all away. If you’re serious about EPS, this is one episode you don’t want to miss. 🎧🔥 Interested in a career with the Edmonton Police Service- joineps.ca [http://www.joineps.ca] Blue Line Fitness Testing is a premier law enforcement fitness testing and training center based in Edmonton. Specializing in helping individuals prepare for the physical demands of a career in law enforcement, we offer comprehensive fitness evaluations, specialized training programs, and classes tailored to meet the unique needs of our clients.  Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2026034/support] Want to support this podcast even more! Make a monthly subscription [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2026034/supporters/new] for only $3 a month here! Interested in becoming a first responder? Reach out to learn more! Email - info@bluelinefitnesstesting.com Blue Line Fitness Testing [https://www.bluelinefitnesstesting.com] Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/bluelinefitnesstesting [https://www.facebook.com/bluelinefitnesstesting] Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/bluelinefitnesstesting/ [https://www.instagram.com/bluelinefitnesstesting/] LinkedIn - Nikki Cloutier  [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikki-cloutier/]

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