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THE RCMP 100 YEARS
Friday, January 31, 2020 A15
A Century of Law Enforcement
Feb. 1, 1920, The Royal North West Mounted Police becomes the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) with the absorption of the Dominion Police.
CAMPBELL RIVER RCMP DETACHMENT HAS A LONG AND STORIED HISTORY OF ITS OWN T
RCMP detachment outgrew its second building and moved into the $6.6 million Police and Public Safety Building on Dogwood Street. The new building was approved in a referendum held in the fall of 1996. In a ceremony in November, 1998, then B.C. Lieutenant Governor Garde Gardom opened the state-of-the-art facility. In 2020, the Police and Public Safety Building houses a Campbell River RCMP detachment that comprises a force of 55 regular members divided into 15 sections: General Duty, Major Crime, Street Crew, Community Response Unit, Domestic Violence Unit, Community Policing/School Liaison Unit, Forensic Ident Services, K9, North Island Traffic, First Nations Policing, Restorative Justice, Victim Services, Crime Stoppers, Crime Analysis, and Citizens on Patrol (volunteers). Throughout the Campbell River detachment’s 70-year history, the members of the force have protected the community through dediCampbell River RCMP officer Al Weishlow and a police car (year unknown). Image 19736 courtesy of the Museum at Campbell River cated police officers. In addition to ulation reached more than 30,000. enforcing the law for the benefit of careless drivers on unpaved roads, toxication. In 1955, policing took logging trucks with over-long loads a big step in Campbell River when Crime was not unlike what current us all, the individual members have played a large part in the life of officers grapple with: break-ins, the first parking rules were impleand many incidents of public inrobbery, vandalism, theft, drinking the community as well, becoming mented by the town. and driving, drug offences, assaults involved in many community orIn 1965, the local RCMP deand other violent crimes. tachment constituted 13 officers, Continued on A22 In 1998, the Campbell River in addition to four assigned to the See: ‘Campbell River detachment...’ police vessel, and the commanding officer, Sgt. G.A. Perry. All tasked with policing a town of 7,008 people. The nature of crimes in the area was changing at the time with car accidents continuing to be a staple of policing but now more property crimes were “plaguing” the area as a newspaper account at the time complained. In 1970, it was time for another move, this time to a building adjacent to the existing City Hall, which it predated. The building now houses the Campbell River Ribbon cutting at opening of new RCMP building, Campbell River, 1971. Deputy A.G. Enterprise Centre. From then until Dr. Kennedy cuts the ribbon at the opening of the new RCMP buidling. Also on hand the 1990’s, the Campbell River de- Campbell River’s first RCMP detachment was located on the Island Highway across from was Campbell River Mayor, Ken Forde (at centre with crossed hands), Assistant RCMP tachment grew alongside the rapid- the government wharf. This building (pictured here in 1951) was built and opened in Commissioner Cunningham, Superintendant Nelson, and John Wade. Image 88-24b7f72c ly growing community whose pop- 1924 and was Campbell River’s first police station. Image 19700 courtesy of the Museum courtesy of the Museum at Campbell River at Campbell River
he history of the RCMP in Campbell River begins in 1950 when the national force took over policing from the British Columbia Provincial Police (BCPP). The BCPP had operated a detachment in the village of Campbell River since 1924 when it was moved from Quathiaski Cove on Quadra Island to Vancouver Island, bringing with it its one-person force, according to a history of policing in Campbell River published in a 1995 Courier-Islander newspaper supplement celebrating the 45th anniversary of the local RCMP detachment. The new detachment made its home in a shingle-sided building on the Campbell River foreshore across from the government wharf in the Pier Street area. The RCMP detachment expanded slightly from the small force policing the area for the BCPP, which had at its disposal, a de Havilland Beaver patrol plane based in Campbell River. The Campbell River RCMP detachment soon acquired a police vessel, the P.M.L. 9 and its members spent their time dealing with
A16 Friday, January 31, 2020
Campbell River Mirror
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THE RCMP 100 YEARS A Century of Law Enforcement
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Campbell River Mirror
Friday, January 31, 2020 A21
THE RCMP 100 YEARS A Century of Law Enforcement
RCMP HISTORY TIMELINE
n June 10, 1968: First female to achieve Chief Scientist in Serology at the RCMP Laboratories – Patricia Alain (RegNo C532). n March 1969: The last patrol by dog team departs from Old Crow, on their way to Fort was one of the last occasions on which the old The following are important dates in the his- begins at the Battle of Duck Lake. McPherson and Arctic Red River. n May 9 1885 - May 12, 1885: The Battle of style full dress uniform was used by the orgatory of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. n April 28, 1969: RCMP presents Queen nization, as it would change by the following Batoche, the final conflict of the Northwest n May 3, 1873: The Act establishing the Elizabeth II with the gift of Burmese, a year to a style more akin to today’s uniform. Rebellion. North West Mounted Police (NWMP) was RCMP service horse that had served on the 1903: Detachments established at Herschel n 1887: Musical Ride first performed (Regifirst introduced in the House by then Prime Musical ride. This is the first horse given to Island and Fullerton. na, Saskatchewan). Minister John A. Macdonald. Queen Elizabeth II as a gift by the RCMP. April 29 1903: A gigantic wedge of limen June 5 1895: A NWMP contingent leaves n August 30, 1873: Order-in-Council signed n May 23, 1969: First Officer in Charge of stone from Turtle Mountain crashes on under the command of Inspector Charles by the Governor General, Lord Dufferin, the Forensic Laboratory in Winnipeg – Caththe town of Frank, killing seventy persons. bringing the NWMP formally and legally into Constantine for the Yukon, in the extension erine Purchase (RegNo C651). NWMP reinforcements are sent to the area, of law and order to the northern frontier. existence. n September 3, 1970: Commissioner W.L. with a local detachment temporary converted n August 17, 1896: Gold is found at Bon November 3, 1873: The first 150 recruits Higgitt is presented with the Commissioner’s into a hospital for the injured. nanza Creek, sparking what was to become for the NWMP gather at Lower Fort Garry Tipstaff by the Canadian Association of n June 24, 1904: King Edward VII confers the Klondike Gold Rush. NWMP patrolled n July 8, 1874: the March West begins at Chiefs of Police. The tipstaff serves in the the title of “Royal” upon the North-West the area under the command of the great Sir Fort Dufferin same way as a badge of the Queen’s authority Mounted Police as a part of the Coronation Samuel Benfield Steele. n October 9, 1874: under the command of for law enforcement. n June 1897: NWMP contingent appears at Honours. Assistant Commissioner Macleod, divisions n July 4, 1973: New Guidon of the RCMP n July 21, 1908: An Order in Council offiQueen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. This was “B”, “C” and “F” arrived at the notorious was presented to Commissioner Higgitt by the first appearance of the Mounted Police on cially approves the fingerprint system. Fort Whoop Up to bring peace and order to Queen Elizabeth II during the Force’s centenn December 21, 1910: Under the command the volatile region. However, word had spread the international stage as well as the first use North-West Mounted Police Officers of B Division, NWMP, 1900. L-R: Insp. Wm. H. Scarth; Insp. Z.T. Wood; Insp. W.H. nial celebrations at “Depot” Division, Regina, of their impending arrival and they found the of the Stetson and the more modern uniform of Inspector Francis Fitzgerald, a patrol Routledge; Insp. Courtland Starnes; Dr. A. Thompson, Assistant Surgeon. Library and Archives Canada, PA-202188 Saskatchewan. leaves Fort McPherson for Dawson. The paof the Force. Fort almost empty. n March 3, 1975: The first all female troop n August 1, 1900: Aylesworth Bowen Perry trol would face adverse weather conditions n April 10, 1875: Order in Council authograduated from Depot in Regina. tions. and would become lost, resulting in the death member of the RCMP. takes over as Commissioner of the North rized the establishment of a post on the Bow n May 15, 1977: RCMP presents Queen n September 7, 1945: Soviet cipher clerk n April 1, 1932: The RCMP absorbs the of all four members. This case has become West Mounted Police, a position he would River; after several weeks of construction, Elizabeth II with the gift of Centenial, a Igor Gouzenko granted protective custody provincial police organizations for Alberta, known as “The Lost Patrol”. hold during its change to the Royal North it was referred to as the Bow Fort and Fort RCMP service horse that the Queen had Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and in Ottawa. On September 5th Gouzenko left n March 21-22, 1911: The bodies of the West Mounted Police in 1904 and to the Brisebois, before Assistant Commissioner the Soviet embassy in Ottawa with documents selected on August 2, 1973 as a part of the four members of what was to be known as the Prince Edward Island. Royal Canadian Mounted Police in 1920. Macleod suggested the name “Calgary”, RCMP’s Centennial celebrations. Centenial is outlining Soviet espionage activities. n April 1, 1932: 32 patrol boats and 246 “Lost Patrol” are found, only 20 kilometers n September 28, 1901: Two troops of the Gaelic for “clear, running water”. deliberately spelled with only one “N”. This is n 1950: The St. Roch travels through the officers and men are transferred from the from their original starting point. They were NWMP escorted His Royal Highness the n 1876: First public performance of riding the second horse given to Queen Elizabeth II Panama Canal becoming the first vessel to Department of National Revenue’s Prevenfound by Corporal W.J. Dempster, a highly Duke of Cornwall and York (later King skills at Fort Macleod. as a gift by the RCMP. experienced and skilled member who executed tive Services fleet creating the RCMP Marine circumnavigate the entire North American n March 26, 1885: The Northwest Rebellion George V) during his visit to Calgary. This n 1978: First civilian member Officer i/c continent. Section. many successful northern patrols. Translation Branch - Thérèse Ayotte (RegNo n September 21, 1957: Ceremony held n May 12, 1933: King George V confers n 1919: The entire arctic was under CanaC63). four Campaign Honours on the RCMP for its on Parliament Hill where the Honourable dian jurisdiction containing 25 detachments n April 1, 1981: First female promoted to George R. Pearkes, VC, Minister of National military service during the Northwest Rebeland over 70 men. Defence, presented the Honorary Distinction corporal - Cpl. Diane Sheppard (Wright) n June 21, 1919: Members of the RNWMP lion, Boer War and First World War. (RegNo 31824). of the badge of the Canadian Provost Corps n April 1, 1937: The RCMP Air Services is clash with demonstrators during the Winnin 1981: First 2 females on the Musical and a scroll with the dates 1939-1945 to the created with the purchase of 4 De Havilland peg General Strike RCMP for inclusion on the Force’s Guidon in Ride - Cst. Joan Merk (RegNo 34018) (15Dragonflys. n 1920: RCMP Headquarters moved from n June 23, 1940: The RCMP St. Roch leaves recognition of the RCMP’s service during the Jan-1981) and Cst. Chris Windover (Mackie) Regina, Saskatchewan to Ottawa. Ontario. (RegNo 32341) (23-Jan-1981). Vancouver for its historic voyage through the Second World War. n February 1 1920: The Royal North West n January 1983: Shelley Peters (# 37949) is n April 1, 1960: Civilian Member category Northwest Passage. Mounted Police becomes the Royal Canadian the first Black women to join the RCMP. n October 11, 1942: The St. Roch arrives in created in the RCMP for work in the crime Mounted Police (RCMP) with the absorption n July 16, 1984: The RCMP Security SerHalifax from Vancouver after two years spent detection laboratories and various technical of the Dominion Police. vice ceases to exist with its duties taken over fields. n June 1, 1928: The RCMP takes over pro- navigating the Northwest Passage. by the newly formed civilian agency called n 1966: Last year that equestrian training n October 16, 1944: RCMP Schooner St. vincial policing duties for Saskatchewan. the Canadian Security Intelligence Service was mandatory for all recruits. Roch arrives at Vancouver having traversed n February 17, 1932: With the help of the (CSIS). n June 30, 1967: David Lawrence Harding arctic waters through Lancaster Sound and Royal Canadian Corps of Signals and bush n August 21, 1987: First female in Air Dipilot Wilfred “Wop” Mays, the Mad Trapper Barrow Strait in 86 days (departed Halifax on (#2582) commences his training at “Depot” Division (Regina, Saskatchewan). He is the July 22, 1944). She became the first vessel to of Rat River is cornered, bringing to end vision - Nancy Puttkemery (RegNo S3367) traverse the Northwest Passage in both direc- first Black Member of the RCMP. a manhunt which had taken the life of one (deceased on duty in 1989).
n 1988: First female instructors at the Training Academy in Regina. Ruby Burns (RegNo 32691) (28-Nov-1988), Karen Adams (RegNo 31801) (28-Oct-1988), Millie Norry (RegNo O1788) (19-Sep-1988), Judy Best (RegNo 33978) (21-Apr-1989), Nancy McKerry (RegNo 34369) (17-Oct-1988), Betty Glassman (RegNo 31826) (25-Oct-1988) and Raymonde Pharand (RegNo 35533) (3-Oct1988). n April 6, 1988: First female to Foreign Post, Lyon France - Sgt. Marie Pilotte (RegNo 31808). n 1989: The last female-only troop goes through “Depot”. n March 15, 1989: First female on the RCMP Honour Roll. Cst. Della Beyak (RegNo 40153) was killed in an automobile accident while on duty on 1989/03/15, near Assiniboia, Sask. n October 19, 1989: 100 Member RCMP contingent sent to Namibia to monitor elections with UN mission (UNTAG). This was the first time the RCMP participated on a UN mission. n 1990: Baltej Singh Dhillon becomes the first Member of the RCMP to be issued with a turban while undergoing recruit training at the RCMP Academy at Regina, Saskatchewan. n January 29, 1990: First female detachment commander – Cindy Villeneuve (RegNo O1647), 1990/01/29, LaColle Detachment, Quebec. June 2 1991: RCMP Ensigns created for
each division in the RCMP. n 1992: Women are issued the iconic Stetson, boots and breeches for the first time. n November 22, 1993: First female drill instructor at the RCMP Training Academy, Nov. 1993 – Debbie Reitenbach (RegNo 36934). n August 31, 1998: First female Assistant Commissioner, and first female Commanding Officer of a division. On 1999/03/23, she accepted the post as head of the new Organized Crime Agency of British Columbia - Criminal Intelligence Service of Canada (CISC) Beverly Busson (RegNo O1643). n 1999: Ted Upshaw (# 36891 / O.1889) is the first Black commissioned officer in the RCMP. n June 18 1999: First female Commanding Officer of Depot Division (Training Academy) – Lynn Twardosky (RegNo O1713). October 14, 2002: Queen Elizabeth II presents the RCMP with the gift of Golden Jubilee, a horse from her own personal collection. This gift was given to the RCMP in recognition of the Queen’s 50th year as reigning monarch. n August 15, 2003: First female member of the Emergency Response Team (ERT) – Cst. Rhonda Blackmore (RegNo 44922) (15-Aug2003). n December 16, 2006: First female Commissioner of the RCMP – Beverley Busson (MacDonald) (RegNo O1643) – Served from 2006/12/16 to 2007/07/16. – Source: rcmp-grc.gc.ca
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A22 Friday, January 31, 2020
Campbell River Mirror
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THE RCMP 100 YEARS A Century of Law Enforcement
100 YEARS OF THE FORCE B
orn out of a need for a national police force to implement the law in Canada’s newly acquired western territories, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police has evolved into a world-renowned organization of more than 28,000 people. The roots of an institution In May 1873, the Parliament of Canada established a central police force, and sent 150 recruits west to Manitoba. The new police force gradually acquired the name “North-West Mounted Police” (NWMP). In July 1874, the Mounted Police, now numbering 275 members, marched west, headed for southern Alberta, where American whisky traders were operating among the Aboriginal people. The officers established a permanent post at Fort Macleod, Alberta, where approximately half of the Force was posted. The remaining members were either sent to Fort Edmonton or to Fort Pelly, Saskatchewan, which had been designated as headquarters. The following summer, the Mounted Police established Fort
Calgary, on the Bow River in Alberta, and Fort Walsh, in Saskatchewan’s Cypress Hills. By 1885, the Force had grown to 1,000 men, but in 1896 its future was threatened by the newly elected Prime Minister, Sir Wilfrid Laurier, who wanted to reduce and eventually disband the NWMP. However, support for the Force in the West prevailed, and it gained new prominence policing the Klondike Gold Rush. In 1904, King Edward VII conferred the title of “Royal” upon the North-West Mounted Police. From 1905 to 1916, the Force entered into contracts to police the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan. These contracts ended due to the provinces’ desire to create their own police forces. Building a legacy Since 1868, the Dominion Police had been the protector of the Parliament Buildings and enforced federal laws across all Canada. On December 12, 1918, the Dominion Police was relieved of its responsibilities in Western Canada, and the Royal North-West Mounted Police took over sole responsibility
for Federal security and law enforcement from the Lakehead to the Pacific (Northwestern Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia). On February 1, 1920, the Act to amend the Royal North West Mounted Police Act came into force. The Act changed the name of the RNWMP to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), and allowed for the move of RCMP headquarters to Ottawa from Regina. In addition, the Dominion Police was terminated and its roles and responsibilities for federal policing in Eastern Canada were taken over by the RCMP. Special rules were included to allow the former members of the Dominion Police to join the RCMP, if they wished. As the RCMP had no presence in Ottawa, “A” Division was created as a home for those former members who opted to join. From this beginning, “A” Division grew to become the RCMP’s division responsible for federal policing duties in the National Capital Region. In 2013, “A” Division was renamed “National” Division. – Source: rcmp-grc.gc.ca
From left Mounties Bill Gordon, Len Gray and Ed Hall in the interior of the Campbell River RCMP detachment (year unknown). Image 19708 courtesy the Museum at Campbell River
Campbell River detachment marks 70 years’ service Continued from A15
like Canada Day, Family Day, the Truck Light Parade, Immiganizations in all spheres of life grant Welcome Centre events, – from sports to the arts, as well Camp Day at Tim Horton’s, McHappy Day at McDonald’s as service clubs, youth groups Restaurant, Pink Shirt Day, like Scouts, Guides and Cadets DARE, school talks on bullying, and many community boards internet safety, drug awareness, and causes. The force itself plays an official Cops for Cancer and Tribal Journeys. role in many community events
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