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Police honours handed out |
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Written by FRANK PEEBLES
Citizen staff
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Tuesday, 06 May 2008 |
The highest-ranking officer in the RCMP in B.C. was in Prince George on Tuesday. Deputy commissioner Gary Bass wore red serge and presided over a ceremony honouring northern B.C. Mounties for long service and officer commissions.
Two of the honourees were civilians working for the RCMP while 21 others were full members of the national police force. In all, 575 years worth of dedication to law and order was acknowledged.
Bass said after the event that the volume of these longevity markers is about to go down dramatically, and that is a concern for the RCMP.
"Recruiting is certainly a challenge. We are recruiting about triple what we were, and it is still going to be hard on us," Bass said.
He was in Prince George for the second time in as many weeks. He said it is important for communication and morale for him to be connected to the rank-and-file officers. Last week he toured area detachments.
"There are certainly challenges here," he said of North District RCMP. "The distances; just getting around, backup is a big issue right now. If you are in a detachment with two, three or four people only, you are always on duty. Those members need relief away from the job."
Bass said North District's inventory of resources is always being examined. A recent big-ticket item provided to the region's police is a Beaver aircraft stationed at Prince George Airport, "and there is talk now of a helicopter," he said. There is a budget schedule that has to be kept and that means projecting most funding requests at least eight months in advance of getting approval.
"We are competing for the same tax dollar as health and education and the rest of it," Bass said. "But this province has been one of the best in Canada for support of the RCMP."
After the presentation of awards, Bass heaped praise on the wives, husbands, children and other loved ones of Mounties for the sacrifices they make to the public as well, by accommodating the demands the force has on its members.
Getting their 20-year long service awards were Insp. Dave Fenson, Const. John Graziano, Sgt. Rob Hardy, Staff Sgt. Jeff McArthur, Cpl. Suzanne McKelvie, Cpl. Kurt Peats, Cpl. Kevin Podbisky, Sgt. Lauren Weare, Staff Sgt. Sheila White and civilian Anna Wilson.
For 25 years service the awards went to Staff Sgt. Doug Aird, Sgt. Kevin Kilar, Cpl. Richard Lanz, Const. Carl-Eric Lippke, Sgt. Patrick McTiernan, Sgt. Don Murray and Staff Sgt. Tom Roy.
Thirty-year service awards went to Const. Pete Berndsen, Insp. Eric Brewer and Const. Raymond Kinloch. Awards for 35 years of duty were given to Cpl. Lothar Bretfeld and Staff Sgt. Keith Hildebrand.
A less common award, the 40-year citation, was given to a man in an even less common position. Salvation Army Major Bob Wilson was celebrated for being an official RCMP chaplain for the past four decades.
Also in the spotlight were three officers who had their latest promotions made official: Insp. Ray Fast, Insp. David Fenson and Staff Sgt. Major Glen McRae.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 06 May 2008 )
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