From Psych Wards to Peace Officer: Breanna Brandson on Mental Health, Mat Jumps & Mobile Patrols

In this high-energy episode, I sit down with Breanna Brandson, a Peace Officer with Alberta Health Services’ Rural Mobile Unit, serving the Central Alberta region. Before donning the uniform, Breanna spent nearly a decade as a psychiatric aide—giving her a unique, ground-level perspective on mental health and frontline care.

Now, she’s patrolling the rural roads, bridging the gap between community safety and compassionate support.

We cover it all—from training days gone sideways (hello OC Spray!), to PARE test frustrations (yes, that 5-foot mat jump still haunts us), to the unexpected importance of pizza diplomacy on shift. 🍕

💬 In this episode:

• Breanna’s bold career pivot from psych aide to Peace Officer
• Why rural mobile units play a critical role in health care and public safety
• Hilarious (and humbling) stories from the academy
• The value of showing up for both your team and your community

Whether you're thinking about joining Alberta Health Services Protective Services or just curious what life is like behind the scenes, this episode is packed with insight, laughs, and the real deal on frontline work.

🚨 Interested in becoming a Peace Officer with AHS?
👉 Learn more at: www.albertahealthservices.ca/careers
🔗 Or reach out directly to start your application journey.

🎧 Don’t forget to follow the podcast for more authentic stories from the women keeping our communities safe—one call at a time.

Looking to join AHS - learn more