Heroic offi

gets

LAST WEEK I had
the distinct pleasure of
being invited to an
awards presentation at
the District Municipal

- Hall.

The RCMP honored two
citizens for their extraordi-
nary deeds, and also paid
homage to [0 of their own,
handing out medals in
recognition of 20 years or
more of dedicated and
exemplary service to their
country, their community
and their fellow citizens.

‘At times like these, the

“Mounties like to dress up in

-their red serge uniforms,
replete with riding trousers
(called “breeks") and high

‘ brown boots polished to a

‘fare thee well. They swell
their chests with pride as
they hold up these special -
people fer richly deserved
recognition.

-They surrounded them-
“selves with family and
‘friends to bear witness to
the occasion. North
Vancouver City mayor Jack
Loucks turned out to pay
his respects, as did North

*Nancouver District’s :-

“Municipal Manager and dis-

‘trict Coun. Ernie Crist.
--: But on this occasion,
there was a difference.
Instead of the detachment
coramander, Superintendent
ii-Yard, making the pre- |
sentations. as is the custom,
‘Assistant Commissioner
Larry Proke, Commander of
all RCMP forces in British

: Columbia ’‘aiid the highest-
a ranking police officer i in the

In our province,
more than 200
people die on the

job every yzar.
‘And another
“200,000 have

to seek medical

attention.

The number

of people

suffering severe injuries
on the job has doubled

cer

mis due

crime and
a punishment

province, appewred in full
dress uniform to do the hon-
ors. He was there as a per-
sonal favor io the lowest
ranking member of the
group of honorees.

Proke didn’t take time
out from his busy schedule
to preside over this ceremo-
ny and give lip service to
another ranking member of
the officer establishment.
Rather, he cume to North
Vancouver specifically to
demonstrate his regard for a
lowly constable who has
given his all into his chosen,
selfless occupation.

« The constable is on his
second assignment to North
Vancouver, and was very
junior in service when he
first arrived on the North
Shore in the 1970s. After a
few years, he was recruited
to serve as an indercover

, agent. As part of a special
. group of officers, he plied

his trade on the meanest
streets across this country,
working alone in the most
dangerous siiuations possi-
ble with only his wits for
protection. It was during

TOR WORKERS. 31
AULA SURED
“ONT fi

this period he demonstrated
just how special he was.

He fell in love with a ter-
rific lady he met while on
one such assignment. But
there’ was no fairy tale end-
ing in this episode. The lady
was diagnosed with cancer.
instead of running away,
knowing full well what the
outcome was going to be,
he married her. The mar-
riage only lasted a few
months before she suc-
cumbed to this dreadful dis-
cuse,

In spite of the emotional
devastation, or perhaps
because of it, he began vol-
unteering for the most dan-
gerous assignments — the
jobs nobody wanted. The so
called “black” files.

The scuttlebutt was he
had a death wish. Maybe he
did, but the successes
mounted, Time after time he
successfully concluded
cases considered so impos-
sible, nobody could face
giving the order to do them.

In those days he thought
he might never again be
happy unless he was in dan-
ger. Perhaps that's why his
second marriage was to a
lawyer. The union ended,
unhappily, in divorce. But
not before it produced two
beautiful children. They
have given him a joy he .
hasn‘t known in years.

Last spring he was
assigned to uniform patro!
in North Vancouver, his first
detachment and his home
for the last 18 years. He

See RCMP page 34

. people face a
greater risk and
are injured at a -

higher rate than

Public Coremony
Raolay, Apeil 20th
12:15 p.n. (lonehtime)
Waturtrent Part,
North Wancoever
(Adjacest to
Lansdale Quay Market)

other workers.

To learn more
about employee
and employer
rights and

responsibilities

in the past decade.
Women and young

BC

for a healthy and safe
workplace, *

—_—____.__ BC FED
British Columbia Federation of Labour

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