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.

QUEEN’S MEDAL DUE

Punctured by eight bullet wounds is this RCMP tunic worn by Constable Bud Johnstone in his epic fight with four armed bandits in the Royal Bank at Coquitlam. Constable Bert Schroeder, who also took part in the arrest of the men, here points to a button which deflected a bullet from Johnstone’s chest – a wound that would probably have been fatal. Apart from the bullet through the coat tail, and one in the left shoulder, the other six shots were clustered on the right chest, arm and shoulder. After it has served its purpose in court, this jacket will be one Bud Johnstone will be proud to keep. (Source Vancouver Sun Newspaper).

April 3, 1956 – Heroic RCMP Constables Johnstone could receive the George Medal for his action in Tuesday’s attempted holdup at the Coquitlam Royal Bank.

It is the highest award which an officer can receive and must be authorized by the Queen.

Some official commendation from RCMP headquarters in Ottawa is expected momentarily.

Police recovered a second machine gun a the home of one of the bank robber suspects Herbert Howerton, in Langley Tuesday night. They said the gun was a foreign make.

Investigating officers say there may be some connection between Tuesday’s holdup and the $3600 robbery of a bank messager who was ambushed on a Langley highway last August 5. One of the suspects in Tuesday’s holdup was also a suspect in the Langley holdup.

Transfer Soon

Const. Johnstone is expecting confirmation soon on his transfer to Qualicum Beach where he will take charge of the RCMP detachment there.

Loot in Tuesday’s holdup, all of which was recovered is now estimated in excess of $10,000.

NOTE: While continually exchanging gunfire and being shot eight times, Constable Johnstone shot several of the robbers prior to collapsing from his wounds at the bank door entrance. In addition to the weapons used by the bank robberies, they also had in their waiting vehicle: two revolvers, a sawn-off shotgun and two Thompson machine guns.

Other RCMP members outside the bank exchanged gun fire with the bank robbers with only one of four robbers getting away. However, he was capture shortly thereafter.

With Bud Henry Martin ‘Bullets’ Johnstone (Reg.#15347 – O.637) was laying in the hospital shot eight times with his wife at his bedside, the Commissioner feared that Johnstone would die of wounds. So the following day, the Commissioner promoted Constable Johnson to the rank of Corporal. Much to the surprise of everyone, Constable Johnstone survived because none of the bullets hit a vital organ. For his actions during this armed robbery, he was awarded the George Medal for bravery.

On September 25, 1982, he retired from the Force as the Officer Commanding Nelson Subdivision with the rank of Superintendent.

POSSE SHOOTS MOUNTIE SLAYER

June 18, 1962 – KAMLOOPS, BC – A rifle-wielding gunman was shot and killed by two policemen Monday less than three hours after he had slain three young RCMP constables in a wild shooting spree.

The gunman, a resident of a tiny community on the outskirts of this interior B.C. city, was cut down in the wooded hills a mile south of here where he had fled on foot after he killed the three policemen with a high-powered rifle.

Elwood J. Keck (Reg.#19233), 25, married, father of one and his wife expecting a second child; Donald G. Weisgerber (Reg.#20215), 23, Fife Lake, Sask., married and his wife expecting a child; G.E. John Peterson (Reg.#20865), 21, Milk River, Alta, married one month.

The man shot down in the hills was identified as George Booth, 32, a single man who lived sometimes with his father in Kamloops and sometimes in a shack in Knutford, just outside Kamloops.

RCMP Superintendent J.B. Harris, head of the Kamloops district detachment, said no apparent motive had been discovered.

Booth was an expert marksman and he cut down the three policemen from a distance with a rapid volley of shots in a wide-open area.

Employees in the nearby provincial government buildings and residents in the Kamloops home for the aged saw the entire affair.

“It looks as though he started shooting before the constables were within pistol range,” said Supt. Harris. “He stood on a culvert above them and started firing immediately, killing the three men.”

The gunman fled along the bed of Peterson Creek into the hills.

Two police among a 29-man posse that sought him with aid of two helicopters, saw him come up over a hill.

“He started firing,” Supt. Harris said, “and our men returned the fire, killing him.”

The man had threatened game warden George Ferguson shortly after stepping out of one of the provincial government buildings. Mr. Ferguson said he stopped the man to check his hunting licence and the man shouted “Get the hell out of here or I’ll shoot you.”

Constable Weisgerber, off duty at the time, was in the office when the call came and he joined the other two officers to check the situation.

NOTE: Corporal Jack White and Constable J.A.N. (Norm) Belanger were the two RCMP members who were involved in the final shoot-out with George Booth.  You can read more details about this shoot-out here.

MOUNTIE SHOT BY COLLEAGUE

Photograph of RCMP Constable David Brian Robinson (Reg.#20598) and the #129 member to be named to the RCMP Honour Roll (Source of photo – “In The Line Of Duty” by Robet Knuckle).

January 27, 1965 – RCMP Constable David Brian Robinson (Reg.#20598) is in serious condition with a bullet wound from an “accident” shooting by a colleague in Humboldt last week, it was learned today.

RCMP said an earlier report that Const. Robinson had accidentally shot himself was incorrect. He was shot by another officer who was cleaning a .38 calibre service revolver in the Humboldt barracks. There were three officers in the barracks at the time of the shooting.

Subdivision headquarters in Saskatoon said the name of the officer who fired the shot would not be released.

Police said they were treating the matter the same as they would if a civilian had been responsible for the accidental shooting.

Dr. N. Ellenburgh of Humboldt Union Hospital said Const. Robinson is in serious condition with a bullet lodged near his spine.

HUMBOLDT POLICEMAN SUCCUMBS

Two funeral services will be held on Friday for RCMP Constable David Brian Robinson, who died in University Hospital, Tuesday, after being injured last week in a shooting incident at Humboldt.

RCMP official said today one service would be held at Humboldt, then the body would be taken to Regina for a service in the RCMP Chapel, after which he will be buried in the RCMP cemetery there.

Photograph of the RCMP Cenotaph at “Depot” Division in Regina with the illustration of Constable David Bruce Robinson’s name. (Source of photo – Sheldon Boles).

Constable Robinson died as a result of a wound received when the revolver of a colleague discharged.

RCMP officials said there would be an inquest.

Born in Geraldton, Ont., Constable Robinson received a forestry technology degree at Lake Head College, Port Arthur. He came to Saskatchewan six and one half years ago and took his RCMP training at Regina. He was stationed at Prince Albert, Melfort and Wakaw before going to Humboldt in July, 1964 where he was in charge of the highway patrol.

Constable Robinson had been in critical condition since the shooting and was transferred from the Humboldt Hospital to Saskatoon on Monday.

Constable Robinson is survived by his wife and three-year-old sone who was residing in Humboldt, by his parents in Sarnia, Ont., and a brother and sister, both in Ontario.

NOTE – In the RCMP Detachment barracks at Humboldt, Saskatchewan – Constables Bud Cottini (Reg.#22731) and Terry Lavereau (Reg.#23400) were cleaning their revolvers for the forth coming Detachment inspection by the Officer Commanding the Saskatoon Subdivision.  Constable Robinson entered the room when Constable Lavereau removed his revolver from his holster and rubbed the gun cloth while engaging in small talk.  Suddenly the gun fired striking Robinson in the chest.  

The inquest into the death ruled that the death was accidental.

Constable Lavereau left the Force in August 1965 and Bud Cottini fell asleep in his car and accidentally died of carbon-monoxide poisoning on December 8, 1972. 

THIEF TAKES RCMP CAR

A 1964 Dodge RCMP detachment car, Kerrobert, bearing licence number 67-536 was reported stolen early this morning. No keys were in the vehicle.

The car is black has the RCMP insignia on the doors, and is equipped with siren, stoplight and two-way radio.

At approximately the same time this morning, all the windows in the town police car were broken, and McDonald’s Consolidated Wholesale was broken into and some food and candy was taken.

Sum of $175 had been taken early this morning, from a man sleeping in the CPR bunkhouse.

Kerrobert is about 120 miles west of Saskatoon.

STOLEN RCMP CAR LOCATED

A car stolen Tuesday night from the Kerrobert RCMP detachment was found on the Red Pheasant Reserve early today.

The two-way radio had been taken out. Damage to the car was minimal.

The Red Pheasant reserve is about 30 miles south of North Battleford.

Abe Cornelson reported this morning that his car was stolen early this morning from his home at Cando, a few miles further south. Police believed the thefts were related.

The keys had been left in Cornelson’s car, a red 1962 Chevrolet with licence number 88-787. A radio had also been left on the seat, he reported.

CHARGED WITH 13 OFFENCES

Ronald Brotzel, 23 Broadacres, entered no plea when arraigned Monday afternoon in magistrate’s court, on 13 criminal charges.

He is charged with five thefts, three counts of breaking and entering, three of possession of stolen property, and three charges of wilful damage. The offences allegedly too place between April and September 1964.

Damage to a private care in Kerrobert amounting to $50; smashing of a car’s windows in Kerrobert, and damage to the stolen RCMP car, constitute the three charges of wilful damages.

Brotzel is charged with breaking and entering Carruther’s Garage in Lashburn. Breaking and entering and theft from Dunfield’s Garage, Kerrobert, and from McLeods in Luseland.

The accused was remanded until Sept. 24.

Brotzel is specifically charged with the theft of an RCMP car, of a 1962 model car from Cando, and a late-model car from Maidstone.

He is also charged with possession of a stolen 1962 car from Vegreville; with possession of a revolver reported stolen from North Battleford in 1959, and with possession of revolvers and rifles taken from Edmonton.

The accused also faces two charges of theft; gasoline from Waseca, and $157 from a Kerrobert resident.