John Stolarski’s Old Newspaper Clippings

With the exception of his first two years in the Force, John Stolarski spent his entire career as a Police Dog Services handler.

Throughout this career, John clipped newspaper articles about members who he had worked with.

Despite the fact that John has passed away, his family has agreed for us to re-post these articles for the interest of RCMP Veterans and current members of the Force.

RCMP STUDY PROGRAMS CATER TO NEW MEN, IDENTITY EXPERTS

Photograph of S/Sgt. H.T. Laing searching a ‘suspect.’

1968 – The RCMP as a profession and new developments in identification formed the themes of two study programs held this month at the RCMP Regina sub-division headquarters in the Post Office building on South Railway Street.

The first was designed to acquaint young members with less than six months of active duty, with conditions of the provincial statutes and the best methods of carrying out various duties.

It was an attempt to impress on them that their work is a profession and that they should be able to carry out their duties as professionals, said Supt. E. R. Lysyk, officer commanding the Regina sub-division.

The two-day course was supervised by S/Sgt. T.J. Peck, senior non-commissioned officer of the sub-division.  Other senior staff sergeants – in charge of various sections – joining him in conducting the instruction session.

The instructors dealt thoroughly with on-the-scene and later procedures involving violations of provincial liquor, highways, game and livestock products acts.  Practical demonstrations were given and frequent use was made of pictures and prepared material.

Personal safety in dealing with possible criminals, testing for impairment, supplying of liquor to minors and other violations of the liquor act, were discussed by S/Sgt. Peck.

Proper methods of searching drivers and cars, accident investigations, carrying loaded firearms in vehicles and checking truckers for stolen cattle or for proper protection of animals moved in winter, were included in subjects handled by S/Sgt. H.T. Laing, officer in charge of the highway patrol.

S/Sgt. A.R. Jesperson, officer in charge of the identification branch, lectured on headquarters and field functions, taking of fingerprints and recognition and preservation of physical evidence at the scene of a crime or an accident.

S/Sgt. M.G. Schell, in charge of the general investigation section, discussed initial on-the-scene work including surveying, making notes and proper procedures for handling spontaneous admissions and confessions.

Taking statements from an accused and from witnesses, for use in court, processing of a prisoner and registering firearms, were dealt with by S.Sgt. S.A. Juniper, officer in charge of Regina Town Station.

Giving evidence is court and court demeanour was discussed by S/Sgt. W.L. Carter, officer responsible for the northern part of the sub-division.

A total of 66 new constables attended the two day course held first in Regina and later in Broadview and Weyburn.

The second conference to be held at the sub-division headquarters saw gathering of identification personnel from municipal police forces and RCMP sub-divisions in all parts of the province.

Liaison Aim

The Regina sub-division identification branch acted as host for the 2.5 day gathering which was arranged to create more personal liaison among Saskatchewan law enforcement identification personnel and to discuss new developments in the field.

Included in discussion was a new disaster trunk developed for identification purposes at a major disaster scene such as an airplane crash site.  The truck was prepared by the RCMP in Ottawa, working on advice from the FBI in the United States.

It was developed at the request of Regina RCMP identification personnel and it is hoped eventually to supply the trunks to various centres all over the province.

The role of the RCMP crime detection lab at the Regina training base was outlined by laboratory representatives.  The lab handles microscopic matching, chemical analysis and other identification work for both the RCMP sub-division and municipal police forces in the province.

Camera Work

Considerable discussion was given to improvements in cameras, types of film, camera accessories and dark room equipment.  The RCMP in Ottawa keeps close watch on new developments in equipment used in identification work and test improvements both in Ottawa and in the field at various sub-divisions.

The conference also included time for comparing of notes on new techniques and processes learned about or developed by individual members among the 25 officers attending.

Also in attendance was Inspector W.. Harasyn, assistant officer in charge of the RCMP identification branch in Ottawa.  The inspector is touring sub-divisions in western Canada and dates of the conference were set to permit him to meet the identification personnel.

CONSTABLE LAY DEAD 7 HOURS 

Photograph of Town Constable Roger Beausoleil.

October 20, 1966 – Willow Bunch – A part-time constable who never saw the need to carry a gun was shot dead Thursday night and lay in the street for seven hours while residents of this quiet little town watched helplessly, fearing to come under the fire of his assailant.

RCMP officers surrounded the house from which the shots were fired, ducking out of the way of more bullets, and eventually gained entry.

The owner, Archie Larocque, was remanded 30 days to the Saskatchewan Hospital at Weyburn Friday on a charge of capital murder in the slaying of Constable Roger Beausoleil.  The constable had been called to the house to investigate a domestic dispute.

Police and eyewitnesses said a shot was fired at Beausoleil as he emerged from his car in front of the house.  There were two more shots as he attempted to take shelter behind the car and he fell to the ground, apparently killed outright.

Roger McGillis, 65, who was walking across the street towards his home, was struck in the face by a bullet.  He was taken to hospital in Regina, where his condition was reported satisfactory.

Neighbours called the RCMP, but when the officers arrived, they drew fire from the house whenever they came within range.  They did not retaliate because of the presence of a number of other persons, including children, in the house.

Police said they included a number of elderly patients who were being cared for by the Larocques on release from the Saskatchewan hospital at Weyburn.

The officers eventually entered the house after Larocque’s mother emerged and gave them a .22-calibre rifle.

Five of Larocque’s children, and a couple with another child, were also in the house.  Police said Larocque’s wife had apparently left the house before the shooting began and was with neighbours across the street.

They eventually gained entry arrested a man and seized a .22 calibre rifle.

Const. Beausoleil, a farmer and construction worker, had held the job for four years and was to have given it up in nine days.

Pascal Bonneau, proprietor of a service station at which the constable received the call that led to his death, said he was universally popular with the residents of Willow Bunch, 110 miles southwest of Regina, and had never carried a gun because ‘nothing like this ever happened here before.’

Mr. Beausoleil is survived by his wife, Evelyn, a son and four daughters, all at home; a sister, Mrs. Leopold Sylvester of Willow Bunch; seven brothers, Anatole and Adrien of Willow Bunch, Romeo, Larry and Alphonse of Montreal, Joseph of Prince George and Simon of Moose Jaw.

Born at Willow Bunch, he did construction work and was employed by the RM of Willow Bunch before his appointment as town constable about four years ago.