Larry Burden’s This Day In The RCMP

The achievements and contributions of the Force have been built upon the individual contributions of many past Veterans. These contributions have largely been forgotten.

Veteran Sgt. Larry Burden (#35982), who served  in “E” Division for 20 years, has spent many years researching and summarizing these achievements by specific date.  Nearly every day, Larry sends out an email message with a selection from his work in progress manuscript “This Day In The RCMP” to individuals interested in these historical notes.

In an effort to share his research to a large group, Larry has agreed to permit us to develop a webpage on our website. Each webpage will post Larry’s historical notations over the past week.

If you wish to contact Larry Burden or provide additional information about his research, please email him at larryburden8@gmail.com.

May 28

1885 – On this day in 1885, #716 Constable Donald McRae was wounded during Northwest Rebellion at Frenchman’s Butte. As a result of his injuries he received a special “wound allowance” from the government until June of 1888. McRae joined the NWMP in 1882 and served until 1887 achieving the rank of Sergeant; he died in 1928.

1897 – Honour Roll Numbers 22 and 23.

#3040 Constable John Randolph Kerr age 29 and #3106 Corporal Charles Horne Sterling Hockin age 37 were killed at Minichinas Hills near Duck Lake, N.W.T., while attempting to apprehend “Almighty Voice”, the murderer of Sgt. Colin Colebrook.

1977 – Friends and family helped retired Constable #2922 John Locke Jamieson celebrate his 100th birthday. Jamieson enlisted in the NWMP in 1877 at the age of sixteen. The recruiting officer looked him up and down and said “you’d be about 19, I figure.” Caught in the midst of the depression and with nowhere to go after spending the $5 his mother had given him to make the train trip to Regina Saskatchewan from his home in Nova Scotia, Jamieson wisely kept his mouth shut. He patrolled 175 miles a week on horseback earning 50 cents a day at the beginning of his five-year career and 70 cents a day at the end. After leaving the NWMP he spent the next 44 years working for the Canadian Pacific Railway.

2001 – For over eight days the RCMP and concerned family members had been searching for Nineteen-year-old Joe Spring who went missing somewhere between Aldergrove and Quesnel BC. On this date RCMP helicopter pilot #36922 Constable Jodeen Cassidy and observer Corporal Al Ramey spotted a wrecked car that was hidden from highway view over an embankment 34 kms north of Williams Lake. She landed her helicopter on the highway and they climbed down to the wreckage and to their surprise and the relief of the family found that Spring was still alive. Had they not spotted the wreckage Spring would likely have not been found for some time and would certainly have perished.

On Friday, June 1, 2001 Member of Parliament (Cumberland—Colchester, PC) Mr. Bill Casey stood in the House of Commons and stated: “Mr. Speaker, I wish to commend RCMP Constable Jodeen Cassidy and Corporal Al Ramey for their successful efforts to locate a 19 year old accident victim who spent a horrible eight days trapped at the bottom of a deep ravine in a badly wrecked car.

Constable Cassidy piloted her RCMP helicopter on a determined and persistent mission until she located the crash. #37974 Corporal Ramey volunteered as a spotter and between the two of them, surely saved the life of Joe Spring.

These two RCMP officers went above and beyond the call of duty and we commend them wholeheartedly. We all wish young Joe Spring a speedy recovery and we again thank Constable Jodeen Cassidy and Corporal Ramey for their extraordinary efforts in this lifesaving rescue. “

On November 17, 2005 CTV and Shaftesbury Films announced that they had begun production on a dramatic movie entitled “Eight Days to Live”, based on Spring’s ordeal.

1985 – Sgt. Dennis Cyr was northbound on Highway 4, crossing a bridge at Sask Landing in the Kyle area, returning to Rosetown from Swift Current in an unmarked police vehicle.

Cyr was crossing the bridge in a line of vehicles that were allowed to cross by the Highways Department. A south bound runaway semi trailer unit struck the police car, resulting in his death.

May 29

1950 – The RCMP patrol schooner St. Roch Captained by Henry Asbjorn Larsen arrives at Halifax after passing through the Panama Canal from Vancouver becoming the first ship ever to circumnavigate the North American continent.

1977

On this Corporal #22363 Richard (Dick) McCarthy was working in the community of Fort Rae, NWT (renamed  Behchokǫ̀ in 2005) on the north shore of the north arm of Great Slave Lake. An intoxicated Dogrib local who was well known to police was in front of his house firing his rifle randomly in the air shouting and swearing at many members of his band who had gathered behind anything that provided some protection for them and were yelling at him. Recognizing the lives were at risk. And the man was well beyond any likelihood of discussion or negotiation, Cst. McCarthy observing him from the side of a house about sixty feet away considered his options. He didn’t want to have to attempt to shoot the man with his 38. special service revolver and it would take over three hours for the Emergency Response Team (ERT) to get assembled and drive to the scene from Yellowknife.

Cst. McCarthy decided that given his highly intoxicated condition, his reaction time would be slow so he waited   to pick the best moment and then sprint the distance to him.  As he was closing the distance, the assailant started to turn towards him and was in the process of bringing the rifle down to fire at the policeman. McCarthy went airborne and hit him waist high and knocked him down and sent the rifle flying.  After a minor scuffle he handcuffed him, gathered up the rifle and dragged him to the detachment cells.  On August 29, 1977 Corporal McCarthy was awarded a Commanding Officer’s Commendation at a ceremony at Yellowknife NWT.

1986 – Commendation awarded to #26492 James Eglinski for the helicopter rescue of man in gorge, Gold River, B.C.  (Looking for more information

May 30

1973 – The Fort St James BC detachment received a complaint that 25-year-old Theodore Dionne was threatening people on the Necoslie Indian Reserve with a gun. Constables #29882 G.K Betker and #28057 R.J. Senft attended the scene and when they attempted to talk with the man through a window, he pulled his revolver, pointed it at Constable Betker and stated; “the only way you are going to take me is to kill me, but I’m going to kill you first.” Dionne then ran out the back door of the house and fled into the bush.

Thirty minutes later the police received a call to the Stuart Lake Hospital advising that Dionne was there threatening the nurses with a knife. When #18910 Sergeant Kenneth B. Bowron and Constables #23791 Alan C. Evans and #27918 Fredrick D. Larson arrived at the hospital they found the deranged gunman attempting to slash his stomach with the knife. At his feet was and axe and was wearing a holster with the handgun stuffed in it. After a few minutes of attempting to reason with Dionne, Sergeant Bowron made the decision to apprehend the gunman. Suddenly Dionne reached for the handgun and Constable Larsen slammed the barrel of his rifle down on the gunman’s wrist knocking the revolver to the floor. The three policemen then tackled the assailant and subdued him.

Theodore Dionne was convicted of pointing a firearm and sentenced to four years in prison. Sergeant Bowron and Constable Evans and Larsen were awarded Commanding Officers Commendations.

1975 – #25268 / O.1505 Joseph Bernard Gilles Michel Lemay earns the Medal of Bravery.

While driving through Westmount, Quebec, 30 year old Corporal Bernard LeMay noticed smoke coming from the upper floor of a duplex house and stopped his car. There he learned from a young boy that his grandmother was in bed on the top floor of the house. After calling the Fire Department LeMay rushed into the burning building and fumbled his way up the stairs through dense smoke and searched for the woman. While struggling to breathe he finally heard her muffled cries, coming from behind a closed door. Mustering all his strength he forced open the locked door and crawling on his hands and knees searched the room until he found the victim who had lapsed into unconsciousness. Corporal Lemay then picked her up and carried her out of the house to safety.

Shortly after he removed the women from the house, firefighters who attempted to climb the same stairs were forced back by the intense heat and flames. Sadly Corporal Lemy’s efforts were in vain, for the woman died in hospital a few days later. He later received a Commissioners Commendation for Bravery and on February 11, 1977 Lemay was presented The Medal of Bravery.

1982 – On this day #34104 Constable Dennis Wilson was accidentally shot in the face by another member. They had been involved in a pursuit of a car in Richmond, BC. After the suspect vehicle finally stopped, shots were fired. Constable Wilson unexpectedly stood up in a second member’s line of fire and was hit in the face resulting in loss of one of his eyes.

1984 – #32871 D.D. Quinton was investigating a sexual assault near Chilliwack, B.C. when he encountered the suspect who suddenly pulled .22 caliber revolver. Quinton struggled with the suspect who managed to fire two shots. Quinton was able to subdue and disarm him without injury to himself or others. The suspect was arrested and eventually sentenced to four years for the firearm offence and two years for the sexual assault. He was awarded a Commanding Officers Commendation.

1993 – Campbellton NB, member #40745 Constable J. Léo-Charles Pelletier was inducted into the New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame.

Pelletier, a former welterweight (147 lb) boxing champion had been a member of the Canadian National Boxing Team from 1972 to 1978 with a record of 112-20 in international bouts. He was the Maritime Golden Gloves champion from 1968-78, the Eastern Canadian Gold Gloves champion from 1972 to 1976, two-time Canadian Amateur Welterweight champion in 1973 and 1974. As well he won a silver medal in the 1973 North American boxing championship and was named the New Brunswick Boxer of the Year in 1971, 1972 and 1973.

May 31

1902 – The South African War (Boer War) ends.

7368 Canadians citizens served with a variety of British forces including more than 200 members of the NWMP. These men had received a leave of absence to serve in the war and most of them served in Canadian companies such as the Lord Strathcona’s Horse commanded by Sam Steel and The Canadian Mounted Rifles commanded by W. Herchmer. One member, Sgt. Arthur H.L. Richardson of the NWMP was awarded the Victoria Cross while serving with the Lord Strathcona’s Horse (See July 5, 1900)

Seven members of the NWMP serving in the Boer War were killed in action; unfortunately their names are not listed on the RCMP Honour Roll. The men were:

#O.74 Inspector Thomas W. Chalmers, who was killed on November 2, 1900, while attempting his second rescue of wounded comrades. He was buried in South Africa. (See November 2, 1900)

#2431 Joseph R. Taylor, died of his wounds on August 19th 1900 while serving with 2nd Battalion Canadian Mounted Rifles and is buried at Dornkop, South Africa

#3188 Herbert Robertson Skirving, was killed in action November 20th 1900 and is buried at Rhenoster Fontein, South Africa.

#3051 Gerald M. O’Kelly, died of Enteric fever serving with 2nd Battalion Canadian Mounted Rifles on June 16, 1900.

#3165 Cst. Zachary Lewis, was killed in action on February 18th, 1900 while serving with the 2nd Special Services Battalion Royal Canadian Regiment at Paardeberg Drift.

#3369 Richard Lett, died of Enteric fever on July 21st, 1900 serving with 2nd Battalion Canadian Mounted Rifles and is buried at Bloemfontein, South Africa

#3380 Harry H. Clements, died of Enteric fever on May 25th 1900 serving with 2nd Battalion Canadian Mounted Rifles and is buried at Springfontein, South Africa

1911 – #3419 Thomas Nicholls was awarded $50 from the Fine Fund in recognition of his arduous six-month patrol from Norway House to Churchill Manitoba.

1936 – While attending a picnic with several friends on the Little Smoky River near High Prairie, Alberta four swimmers got into trouble and #11456 Constable R.H. Wilson swam to their aid. He succeeded in rescuing three of them but the fourth swimmer a Mr. Hunt drowned. In recognition of his courage he was awarded the Meritorious service Parchment from citations from The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem.

1944 – Honour Roll Number 83.

#12108 Constable Donald Gilbert Stackhouse age 31 was killed when his motorcycle hit a Teller mine, while serving with the R.C.M.P. Provost Company in Italy. The 31 year old constable from Arnprior Ontario joined the RCMP in 1934 and served in Ottawa, Regina and Estevan Saskatchewan before volunteering to serve overseas with the Provost Corps in 1940. He was buried in the Cassino War Cemetery below the Abbey of Monte Cassino, Italy alongside 855 Canadian comrades.

1959 – Mountie Shot in the Heart and survives.

#15512 John Clark responded to a complaint of a fight on a native reserve near Coquitlam, BC. On his arrival, he was confronted by a man who without warning shot him in the chest with a .22 caliber rifle. Constable Clark’s life was saved when another native, John Robertson, placed the wounded officer in his police car and even though he didn’t have a driver’s license, drove the police car five miles to the hospital. Doctors operated and removed the bullet from his heart, saving his life. Clark who had joined the RCMP in 1948 received a commendation for his bravery and eventually returned to active duty and retired in 1974 as a Staff Sergeant.

1982 – The federal Government’s Merit Award along with a cheque for $1500 to was presented to #22572 / O.1223 Corporal Michael Cassidy for his innovation and expertise in authoring a reference book on “Footwear Identification”.

1999 – #35096 Michael Beaudoin of the Yellowknife “G” Division Major Crimes Unit was wounded in the leg by a shotgun blast.

Police were attempting to make an arrest at Baker Lake, NWT when the man began shooting at the police. The officers backed off and a tactical unit from Yellowknife was flown to the scene. During the standoff the gunman began shooting through the walls from inside his house, striking Cpl. Beaudoin. Negotiations between authorities and the gunman continued on for 15 hours when 52-year-old James Warren Maxwell finally gave himself up. He was charged with a variety of offences including attempted murder, endangering life with a firearm, uttering death threats and possession of a firearm while prohibited.

May 27

1933 – Corporal #9702 Stanley George Gumm and Constables #9141 Alfred Guy Arthur and #9851 Frank Clarence Johnes are assigned to work as honour guards at the Canadian Exhibit at the Century of Progress Exposition in Chicago. The trio was on duty until October 31st. 1933, and welcomed over five million visitors to the exhibit.

1943 – Columbia Pictures releases “Law of the North West” The 57 minute movie’s tagline was “An Avalanche of Thrills” and starred Charles Starrett as RCMP Constable Steve King in the riveting tale of how our hero has to deal with a crooked contractor played by Douglas Leavitt and his gang who try to take control of a road construction project.

It seems the Americans are building a highway to Alaska and the Canadians decide to build a road that will connect their mine to the highway and enable them to transport their valuable tungsten from their mine to market. Our villain’s convince the miners to put up their mining claims as security so they can finance the construction of the road.
He then delays construction in an effort to gain ownership of the mines for himself. It seems that his self-interests are more important than building a road to support the war effort.

1966 – #16041 Corporal Ian Russell Smith and Constables #21749 Wayne F. Popp and #23472 Robert E. Doige, attended to a complaint near100 Mile House BC, in which a man had shot at his wife. Upon arrival they found the man at the door of his house holding a 22. Caliber automatic rifle and yelling at the police to keep away. For nearly an hour Cpl. Smith attempted to reason with the gunman and then seeing an opportunity, he rushed the man knocking him backwards into the cabin, as his partners rushed in and retrieved the weapon. Corporal Smith was awarded a Commissioners Commendation for Bravery.

1973 – A headstone commemorating two Northwest Mounted Policemen killed at the Battle of Duck Lake was held by members of the Prince Albert Subdivision at the St. Mary’s Cemetery near Prince Albert Saskatchewan. Three men; Constables #1003 Thomas James Gibson, #852 George Knox Garrett, and #1065 George Pearce Arnold (Honour Roll 6,7,8) were killed or fatally wounded at the battle during the Northwest Rebellion on March 26 1885. Neither Constable Gibson nor Arnold’s graves were supplied with gravestones by their families and went unmarked for over 88 years.

The Officer Commanding Prince Albert Sub Division, Superintendent 15422/O.576 Douglas J. Wright led the 22-member squad from Detachments in the area and Constable F.W. Wilson played the Last Post and Reveille at the gravesite, while members of the North Saskatchewan Regiment fired a 100 round volley.

1985 – On this Day, #22419 Sergeant Dennis Conrad Cyr was killed on duty when a run-away truck collided with his police car near Kyle, Saskatchewan.

Sgt. Cyr was the NCO in charge of the Detachment at Rosetown Sk, and was en-route travelling northbound from Swift Current in an unmarked police car crossing the bridge at Saskatchewan Landing. The northbound lane was closed for construction so he was crossing in the southbound lane in a line of vehicles that were being directed by the highway workers. As he was crossing the bridge a runaway semi-trailer truck smashed into his car killing him.

Dennis Cyr was born in Duncan BC and joined the RCMP on April 4th, 1962 at Victoria, BC when he was only 19 years old. Throughout his career he served in several locations in Alberta, Montreal and Saskatchewan.

Sadly Sgt. Cyr was forgotten about for more than 20 years when was finally acknowledged in September 2005 when his name was placed on the “Wall of Honour” at the “F” Division Headquarters in Regina, SK. On June 13, 2017. On the 32nd anniversary of his death a plaque in his memory was unveiled at the detachment he commanded in Roestown by the then commander #39767 Sgt. Jason Waldner in the presence of several RCMP dignitaries and Sgt. Cyr’s children and their families.

Sgt. Dennis Conrad Cyr who died two days before his 43rd birthday has yet to be entered on the RCMP Honour Roll.

May 26

1950 – Honour Roll Number 86.

#5816 Constable Alexander Gamman age 58 was killed when he attempted to apprehend a bank robber in Montreal Quebec.

On May 25th, 1950 Constable Alexander Gamman decided to go for a walk on his lunch break. The senior constable who had originally joined the RNWMP in 1914 and served until 1933 and re-engaged in 1940 was assigned to work as an unarmed guard at the Bank of Canada in Montreal. While the 29-year veteran was strolling down Dorchester Street he saw the manager of the Bank of Toronto run out of the bank yelling that his bank had been robbed and pointed at a man who was running towards Gamman. When the bank manager hollered, “stop that man, he has a gun”, the gunman halted a few feet from the policeman, turned and shot the manager in the leg.

Constable Gamman immediately lunged for the assailant’s arm and attempted to wrestle the gun from his hand. The six-foot, 200-pound gunman was half Gamman’s age, and managed to break free of the policeman’s grasp and then shot him three times in the chest at point blank range before fleeing through the crowd of stunned witnesses.

Constable Gamman was rushed to the hospital but died at eleven o’clock the following morning.

Constable Gamman was given a funeral in Montreal with full military honours and then his remains were transported to Calgary Alberta, where he was buried in the Union Cemetery. His murderer, Thomas Rossler was later captured and convicted for both the bank robbery and the murder of Constable Gamman and was hanged.

A year later King George VI posthumously awarded the Kings Police and Fire Medal to Gamman. The medal was accepted by his wife Ida and was inscribed “for conspicuously courageous action and in absolute disregard for his own personal safety.” This was the first time a member of the RCMP had been awarded the Kings Police Medal which at that time was the highest award for bravery a police officer could receive in the British Empire.

1937 – Honour Roll Number 61.

#12093 Constable William George Boorman age 26 was accidentally shot and killed, while hunting seals near Port Harrison, Quebec.

Life in the Eastern Arctic was hard and to supplement their annual food rations members of the Force had to hunt local game. A hunting party consisting of Constable Boorman, S/Cst Sampson and four other Inuit were just returning from a seal hunt in the vicinity of Elsie Island, about forty five miles north east of Port Harrison, Quebec. As Cst. Boorman placed his rifle in the boat it discharged and killed him instantly.

Originally from Winnipeg the body of William George Boorman could not be transported home to his parents due to the isolation. Local residents made a simple wooden coffin and he was laid to rest at Port Harrison by his detachment commander #10544 Lance Corporal T.A. Bolstad.

There is no longer a detachment at Port Harrison now known as “Inoucdjouac”, where Cst. Boorman still lays surrounded by a white wooden picket fence.

1974 – The Saint John Ambulance Meritorious Certificate was awarded to #22547 Corporal George F. Francis for saving the life of a Milestone, Saskatchewan man who had suffered a heart attack. Francis performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation on the man, reviving him.

May 25

1882 – Honour Roll Number 5.

Very little is known about #957 (temporary regimental number) Constable Adam Wahl who drowned in the Missouri River, USA. He was traveling with several other new recruits from Fort Toronto to Fort Walsh, N.W.T. He joined the NWMP on April 17, 1882.

1935 – The RCMP gets its first official police dog; a German Shepard named Black Lux. His handler is #10947 Constable William Henry Billington. Black Lux was the son of the famous RCMP police dog a “Dale”

1939 – Their Majesties King George VI and Queen Elizabeth visit Depot in Regina.

1965 –A Rossland, BC man who had struggled with being an alcoholic for some time and had even gone to Alcoholics Anonymous for help got drunk again and became violent with his wife. When his AA sponsor came over to the house to help, the man grabbed a double barrel shotgun and after throwing everyone out, barricaded himself in the house.

When the local police couldn’t convince him to surrender, the officer in charge called police dog handler #20360 Constable Robert Marshall Stephens and his dog “Cindy” to the scene. After repeated orders for the man to surrender failed, Cst. Stephens was ordered to send his dog up a flight of stairs to attack the gunman. Reluctantly Stephens complied and Cindy rushed up the stairs and was shot in the chest with a blast from both barrels at close range. Constable Stephens then rushed to his partner’s aid and firing his .38 caliber service revolver, he put five bullets into the assailant. The gunman survived and was taken into custody but Cindy lingered for ten minutes before dying in the arms of her handler.

Cst. Stephens was awarded the Commanding Officers Commendation for Bravery and was later summoned to Ottawa to explain to the Commissioner of the RCMP what had happened and why his dog was needlessly sacrificed. After he advised Commissioner McClellan, that he was ordered to send the dog in and as a constable he was in no position to refuse an order from a superior officer, the Commissioner issued a new standing order, stating that only the dog handler could decide what the dog would be used for. This common sense directive came too late to save Cindy, but it is still in place today and has saved many other police dogs since.

Cst. Stephens left the RCMP in 1967 after ten years of service, but both he and Cindy live on in the hearts and minds of millions of people around the world, because of a publicity photograph. Dressed in “Red Serge” with Cindy at his side the photograph was made into a popular picture postcard and it has been in circulation for nearly 50 years!

1983 – # 23655 / O. 1284 Sergeant Raymond Charles Singbeil is presented the Decoration of Honour in Silver for Services to the Republic of Austria.

2009 – RCMP Sergeant #44582 James Wesley McLaren of Gleichen was one of the 44 recipients of a Medal of Bravery from His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada at a ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa on Oct. 12.

On May 25, 2009 Sergeant McLaren risked his life to try and rescue a suicidal man in Cape Dorset, Nunavut. McLaren and his detachment responded to a call that an intoxicated man was threatening to jump into the ocean, only to arrive and find that the man had already jumped. McLaren then crawled to the edge of the ice and threw a rope to hook the man, who refused to reach for the help.

Unfortunately McLaren and his team were unable to save the victim, but they were able to keep the man’s girlfriend from jumping in after him, as he pulled the woman to safer ice and waited for search and rescue to arrive.

May 24

1875 – On this day the men of the NWMP post at Swan River Manitoba, held a snake-killing contest. By the end of the day 1100 snakes had been destroyed.

1876 – The first band of the North West Mounted Police was formed at Swan River, Manitoba. Their instruments were paid for by the 20 members themselves after the government refused the Commissioners request to pay for the instruments and shipped from Winnipeg by dog-team. The band’s debut on Queen Victoria’s birthday was conducted by Sergeant-Major Thomas Horatio Lake. Seven additional RCMP bands existed in various locations during the first 30 years of the force’s history.

1974 – A celebration was held in the northern settlement of Aklavik, N.W.T because the State of Alaska had settled several land claims with many individual Eskimo’s throughout the north, including some of the residents of Aklavik. A large quantity of liquor was flown into the normally “dry” community from Inuvik, 70 miles away and residents of all ages partied until all of the liquor had been consumed.

Around 10:30 pm after drinking heavily with Charles Bell Koe age16 and two other friends, 16-year-old Eugene Lawrence Thrasher left his buddies and went over to the local Hudson’s Bay Company store. There he proceeded to smash out a window of the store and steal a 30-30 rifle and ammunition.

The manager of the Hudson’s Bay store and his wife heard the commotion and looked out their window and saw Thrasher walking by their house carrying the rifle and going into the rear of the Roman Catholic Mission House. Shortly thereafter they heard a single shot and observed the gunman leave the Mission and head towards the bush. They immediately called the police and reported what they had seen.

Constable #26992 Charles (Chuck) Fenwick Bunting rushed to the scene and saw a man walking along the riverbank. When he went inside the Mission he discovered that the resident priest Father Jean Franche had been shot in the stomach and learned that the priest had thrown Thrasher out of the Mission. As a result the gunman had fired a shot through the door after the Priest had closed it on him. While Sister Anna Marie Broduer phoned the Nurses station, Constable Bunting placed his coat over the wounded Priest to keep him warm and then rushed after the assailant.

Cst. Bunting quickly caught up to Thrasher as he was nearing the last house in the settlement, occupied by Mr. Joseph Frank Rivet. As Bunting shouted to the gunman to halt, the assailant stopped, turned and then pointed his rifle at the Constable who quickly ducked behind cover. As the youth ran from the scene Bunting fired several warning shots in an attempt to get the gunman to stop. Hearing the shots Frank Rivet came out of his house and yelled, “What the hell is going on?” The Constable quickly explained what had happened and instructed Rivet to get his rifle and assist him.

Losing sight of the suspect Constable Bunting cautiously proceeded on, well aware of the danger he was in. As he walked past a cache of fuel barrels, Bunting spotted the gunman lying in the grass trying to take aim at him. Bunting shouted to him and ordered stand up and place his hands over his head but instead the youth stood up and pointed his rifle at the policeman. Realizing that Frank Rivet was coming up behind him, Constable Bunting moved to the left in a semi-circle away from Rivet and fully exposed himself to the gunman.

Having no available cover, he then dove to the ground giving his attacker a smaller target to shoot at. As Bunting was reloading his revolver Thrasher fired hitting the constable in the left arm. Though he was seriously wounded Constable Bunting took aim at his assailant and fired five shots and yelled to Rivet to shoot as well. Taking aim, Frank Rivet fired a single shot and the gunman went down.

Before getting up Chuck Bunting removed his belt and fastened a makeshift tourniquet around his wounded arm and cautioned Rivet to ensure that gunman could no longer fire his rifle. When they approached Thrasher they discovered that though he had been hit twice in the chest he was still alive.

All three wounded men were taken to the local nursing station and stabilized. Concerned that there could be more trouble, Constable Bunting instructed the staff to not let anyone enter the Nursing station.

When the shooting started Constable Bunting’s wife Brenda, called the Detachment in Inuvik, and within an hour and a half nine more policemen were flown to the scene. As the three wounded men were about to be loaded onto two aircraft another crisis ensued.

When Thrasher’s friend Charlie Koe heard that his friend had been shot he went to the Nursing Station and demanded to see him. When he was refused entry, Koe angrily returned to his house and grabbed his rifle and began firing from his front steps.

A standoff occurred with the additional reinforcements and in the course of events Charlie Koe was shot and killed.

All three patients arrived at the hospital in Inuvik but both Father Franche and Lawrence Thrasher died on the operating table. Constable Bunting survived and eventually returned to work. At a later date both he and Mr. Joseph Frank Rivet was awarded the Commissioners Commendation for Bravery and Commanding Officers Commendations were issued to Corporals Bertrand M. Charlebois and Gordon F. Poth and Constable #26991 Glen H. Brooks for their role in the standoff with Koe.

1980 – Honour Roll Number 164.

#26522 Constable Roy John William Karwaski age 33 died from internal injuries he received in a police car accident, at Prince Albert, Sask.

Constable #35406 Wayne Johnston, Corporal #23477 B.A. Prawszik and #26522 Constable Karwaski were responding to an assistance call from Waskesiu Lake Detachment near Prince Albert Saskatchewan. The men were traveling at high speed in an unmarked police car with grill lights flashing and were being followed close behind by a second police car.

As they sped along Highway #2 in the early morning traffic Cst. Johnson attempted to pass a vehicle when a car driven by an impaired driver driving on a side road ran through a stop sign and drove across the road in front of them. Unable to brake, the police car slammed into the drunk driver’s vehicle. The driver of the car and one of her passengers were killed on impact and the other passenger was badly injured.

Cst. Johnson and Cpl. Prawdzik was seriously injured but Cst. Karwaski who was sitting in the back seat and was wearing his seat belt was mortally injured. By the shotgun he had at his side. The force of the impact wedged the butt of the shotgun into the floor and the tip of the barrel was driven deep into his abdomen rupturing several internal organs fatally injuring him. He was rushed to the hospital in Prince Albert but died an hour later.

Roy Karwaski joined the RCMP in 1968 and he and his wife Colleen had three young children. In 1969 he was the recipient of a Commanding Officers Commendations for bravery. (See November 22, 1969) His body was returned to Britt Ontario where he was buried at the Holy Family Cemetery.

In honour of his life and service to the RCMP a street at in Depot Division in Regina was named Karwaski Drive.

1991 – #35348 / O.2329 Constable D.A. Bogle was awarded a Commissioners Commendation for Outstanding service. The award was in recognition of his perseverance and ingenuity in investigating a 1988 murder that occurred in Newfoundland.

May 22

1922 – The Coast Guard Ship “Arctic” departed for the far north with ten members of the RCMP who are dispatched to establish detachments on Ellesmere & Bylot Islands. Included are #4314 / O.194 Inspector Charles Wilcox with Constables #4919 Alfred Joy, #6296 James Wight, #8608 Finley McInnes, #9454 Bernard Jakeam, #8610 Hugh Friel, #9520 Charles Fairman, #9521 Leonard Fielder, #9613 Henry Must & #9754 Herbert Lee. 

These are the most northerly posts in the Canadian Arctic and the establishment of posts there is a direct response to government concerns over challenges to Arctic sovereignty from the USA and Denmark. Some of these extraordinary adventurer policemen go on to accomplish fantastic feats of endurance in patrolling the most isolated and northern reaches of Canada.

1940 – Honour Roll Number 65.

#11298 Constable Frederick Gordon Frank Counsell age 31 was shot and killed at Parkland, Alberta. 

Sixty year-old Charles Hansen, had murdered his son and the Lethbridge Alberta police received information that he had fled to nearby Parkland. They contacted the RCMP detachment in Parkland and advised them of the murder and requested members check and see if the suspect was at his house.

#11331 Cpl. William H. Wilson accompanied by #11298 Cst. Frederick Counsell attended Hansen’s address and upon their arrival Hansen opened fire on the two police officers from inside his house. Cpl. Wilson called for back up and shortly thereafter #8054 Staff Sergeant George Harvey rushed to the scene. The members then fired tear gas into the house and after a long wait with no action they cautiously entered the residence. 

As Cst. Counsell began climbing the stairway to the attic, Hansen suddenly appeared and shot him in the head and killed him. Soon after, #14755 Cst. John Bull observed Hansen through a window and promptly shot and wounded him in the chest. Hansen disappeared from view and shortly thereafter a second shot was heard. 

When the remaining officers entered the house they discovered that Hansen had shot himself. Follow-up investigation revealed that Hansen had previously served a prison term in Minnesota for the killing of his mother.

Hundreds of people from all over Alberta attended Constable Frederick Counsell’s funeral at the St. Augustine’s Anglican Church in Lethbridge. The former carpenter from Vancouver BC was buried in the RCMP plot at the St. Augustine’s Anglican Church cemetery having served eight years in the RCMP.

1944 – Honour Roll Number 82.#12398 Constable John (Jack) Francis Nelson age 33 was killed in action in WWII, while serving in the R.C.M.P. Provost Corps in Italy.

On the day he was killed the Halifax native was directing traffic at an intersection on the main north / south highway south of Rome known as the “Heart Route”. Due to the allied push north through Italy the road was constantly congested with military traffic, infantry and long lines of prisoners of war. As he was doing his best to keep the flow of traffic moving the Germans launched an artillery barrage and a 88mm shell burst beside Constable Nelson’s jeep killing him instantly.

The graduate of St. Mary’s University had enlisted in the RCMP in 1934 and volunteered to serve with the RCMP Provost Corps in 1941. He is buried in the Cassino War Cemetery, at the Abbey of Monte Cassino Italy.

1986 – The 16 member Emergency Response Team (ERT) from Newfoundland were mobilized and were sent on a chase across the Atlantic Ocean to apprehend two Spanish fishing trawlers. 

At 02:15 AM Fisheries officers from the patrol vessel “Cape Roger” had boarded the Spanish trawlers “Amelia Meirama” and “Julio Molina” and arrested the Captains for illegal fishing within Canada’s 200 mile limit and ordered the ships to return to St. Johns. 

Instead of complying the Captains ordered the officers off their ships and when they refused to leave the two vessels departed at full speed headed for Spain. Two days later the pursuit vessel “Leonard J. Cowley” caught up to the Spanish Trawlers 300 miles from the Azores Island and after the Captains again refused to stop, the ERT members went into action. Four Zodiac’s with ERT members and divers were launched and soon overtook the trawlers. After thunder flashes were thrown aboard, the Spanish crew members ran below and the ERT teams using boarding ladders scrambled aboard and arrested the crew and their Captains at gunpoint. 

The ships were turned around and 72 hours later arrived back in St. Johns where 200,000 pounds of salt cod was unloaded and the ships were seized and the crew flown home to Spain. Eventually the matter came to court and the total fines levied were only $150,000.

May 23

1873 – The “Enabling Bill” was given Royal assent to provide for the formation of a mounted police force of 300 men for the North-West Territories. The original name was intended to be the “North-West Mounted Rifles”, but the reaction of the U.S. to the prospect of an armed force patrolling the Canadian-American border prompted Prime Minister Sir John A. MacDonald to scratch out the name “the Mounted Rifles” and inserted “Mounted Police”.

1882 – Honour Roll #221

It took 125 years for 21 – year old Constable #345 George Hamilton Johnston to be added to the RCMP Honour Roll after he was killed at Fort Walsh Alberta by an accidental discharge from a rifle. He is buried in the Fort Walsh Historic Graveyard.

 Originally a farmer, Johnston joined the Northwest Mounted Police on June 9th 1879 until his untimely death. On September 13th 2009 a special ceremony was held in the Chapel at the RCMP Training Academy “Depot” to add the names of members, special constables and auxiliary constables who lost their lives in response to an operational policing duty and whose deaths had previously been overlooked to the official Honour Roll.

1885 – Chief Poundmaker (Pitikwahanapiwiyin), 1826-1886 upon hearing of Louis Riel’s defeat marches to Fort Pitt Saskatchewan and surrenders with his Cree warriors and 150 Metis ending the North West Rebellion. He is later convicted in court and sentenced to three years in the Stony Mountain Penitentiary. He was released after serving only seven months of his sentence but he died a few months later at the age of 44.

1914 – In an attempt to circumvent Canada’s exclusion laws that effectively prohibited non-white immigration from India wealthy fisherman Gurdit Singh chartered the ship “Komagata Maru” and sold passage to 396 mostly Sikh immigrants. The immigration laws in many parts of the British Empire were designed to restrict the flow of Asian immigration and Canada was no exception. Canada had already enacted several laws that limited the civil rights of Native Indians, such as the right to vote, hold public office, serve on juries, or practice as pharmacists, lawyers, and accountants. When the Canadian government decided to restrict immigration from India they enacted a policy that required immigrants to travel on a “continuous journey” from their country of birth and carry a minimum of $200 cash. On face value the policy appeared to be equitable to all immigrants but what was not known was that the government had designed the policy to prevent immigration from India. To ensure that the policy worked the government of the day applied pressure to Canadian Pacific to cease their lucrative shipping route between Calcutta India and Vancouver thereby making it impossible to travel from India to Canada via a continuous journey.

When the Komagata Maru arrived in Vancouver the ship was refused permission to dock and it dropped anchor in English Bay. The Premier of British Columbia, Richard McBride publicly stated that the passengers would not be allowed to disembark. The local Indo-Canadian community then challenged the matter in court and on July 7th the Supreme Court ruled that under new Orders-In-Council, the court had no authority to interfere with the decisions of the Department of Immigration. The court ruling led to the Captain of the ship being relieved by the angry passengers and the government dispatching a tug and a Navy destroyer to push the ship out to sea. On July 23 the Komagata Maru returned to Aisa.

Partly because of the events surrounding this dark period in Canadian history, the immigration laws were eventually changed and Canada has since become a place of welcome for immigrants from all over the world. The same holds true for the RCMP. In the last 30 years the face of the Force has changed to reflect the cultural diversity of the nation and Sikh’s along with every other religious and ethnic backgrounds  play an important role in the membership of the RCMP.

1940 – Honour Roll Number 66.

#10655 Constable Harry G. Rapeer age 42 was killed accidentally, while attempting to stop a runaway team of horses, at Regina, Sask.

Rapeer was posted to Depot Division in Regina as a teamster and had driven a wagon with a load of garbage to the incinerator. While he was unloading the rubbish, the wind blew some paper into the air that in turn spooked the team of horses. Constable Rapeer got off the wagon and went to the head of the team in an attempt to try and calm the horses and get control of them. As he was grabbing at their bridles one of the horses suddenly bolted knocking him to the ground and then the two horses and the wagon rode over him crushing his head. He was rushed to the hospital but he died a few hours later.

His funeral was conducted in the RCMP Chapel and he is buried in the RCMP Cemetery at Depot.

1973 – At 11:21 am “VE 3 RCMP” amateur “ham” radio goes on the air as part of the RCMP’s 100th anniversary celebrations. The first transmission was made by the Governor General Roland Mitchner who extended greetings to “CI 1 PEI” the Province of Prince Edward Island on the celebration of the Provinces centennial in Confederation.

Throughout the year thousands of amateur radio buffs made contact from countries from all over the world. All those who made contact were sent a “QSL” card designed by Staff Sergeant Paul Cederburg confirming the contact with the RCMP ham station. S/Sgt. Cederburg is also credited with designing the 25-cent and silver dollar coins released by the Royal Canadian Mint in honour of the RCMP centennial.

1996 – Constables #39582 Philip Leslie Carver and #45149 Jason Charles Martin were awarded the Medal of Bravery after they risked their lives saving a woman who tried to jump from a hydro dam.

The constables responded to a complaint of a suicidal woman who was hanging on the outside railing of the hydro dam bridge in Pine Falls, Manitoba.

When they arrived they found the intoxicated woman was standing on a narrow metal grate ledge and as they approached her, she let go and began to fall towards the churning waters, 23 metres below. Acting quickly Cst. Carver thrust himself over the railing and succeeded in grabbing her by her belt loop. At the same time Cst. Martin lunged at her and managed to grab hold of the woman and the policemen pulled her back against the railing. For nearly ten minutes, the two men struggled with the combative woman before they were able to pull her over the chest high railing and subdue her.

2003– A statue dedicated to the RCMP is unveiled at the Lloydminster City Hall to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the City and 130th of the RCMP. The statue named “HOPE” depicts a Mountie kneeling with his hand on the back of a child and his injured dog resting on a brown granite base 52” high that is emblazoned with the word HOPE over the Canadian flag. The community project was spearheaded by retired Sergeant # 20929 Glenn MacGregor Joseph Wood and designed and built by Wainwright Alberta artist Rudi Schmidt.

May 21

1923 – Prohibition comes into effect in Prince Edward Island.

1937 – Commendation awarded to #12705 Constable Ainsile Kenneth Bond for his investigation of a theft, at Springdale, Sask.

Bond joined the Force in 1935 and retired in 1963 as a Sergeant.

1986 – Commendations were awarded to #29874 B. Wesley Luloff and #36632 Constable Stephen Raine for the arrest of an armed man in Norman Wells, NWT who was shooting at them.

May 20

1969 –26 year old Constables #23075 Arnold Cameron Reid and #26707 David Nels Sigvaldson, responded to a report of a man in an alley with a rifle in Powell River, BC. When the officers arrived they found themselves being threatened with a shotgun. When the suspect pointed the rifle at a civilian, Constable Reid rushed him pushing the barrel skyward. In the process the shotgun discharged and with the help of Constable Sigvaldson the suspect was overpowered and arrested. 

The Commissioners Commendation was awarded to Cst. Reid and a Commanding Officer’s Commendation was awarded to Cst. Sigvaldson.

1972 – It wasn’t that long ago that a man in the Mounted Police could not marry until he had enough service and money in the bank. Even into the 1980’s members of the Force had to get permission from their Officer Commanding (OC) to marry. What is less known is the fact that the Officer Commanding also had the power to perform the marriage ceremony as well! This was the case at Whitehorse Yukon, when on this day the Officer Commanding Whitehorse Sub Division, #16140 / O.579 Inspector Guy Marcoux officiated at the marriage of #25596 Constable J.R. Card of Carcross Detachment and Miss Valerie Newton.

1972 – #15085 Staff Sergeant Hamish T. “Jim” Laing is invested as a Serving Brother in The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John by the Governor General Roland Mitchner at a ceremony at Government House in Ottawa.

May 19

1939 – Security was tight on Parliament Hill when King George VI (1895-1952) became the first reigning monarch to address the Canadian Parliament.

1943 – A Commendation is awarded from England’s Scotland Yard to #10700 / O.439 Joseph Raoul Rene Carriere for his assistance in an investigation of a Canadian Soldier murdered in England. Carriere joined the RCMP in 1929 and retired in 1972 as a Deputy Commissioner.

1990 – Honour Roll Number 189.

17 year veteran, #30967 Constable Gerald Vernon Breese age 37, died as a direct result of injuries sustained from an RCMP motorcycle accident, at Penticton BC.

Constable Breese was responding to a reported stabbing when his motorcycle was hit broadside by another vehicle. He suffered serious head injuries and died on October 24th 1990, five months after the crash, from complications related to his injuries.

Gerry had recovered physically but suffered significant personality changes and battled bouts of depression.

Initially Gerry’s death was ruled to be a heart attack and not duty related. Through the efforts of his wife Jannelle who has since become an expert on the effects of brain injury related stress and accelerated heart disease, the Canadian Pension Commission reversed their decision and his death was ruled duty related. 

Janelle Breese-Biagioni research and work in the area of brain injuries inspired her to write a book about the problems of brain injuries. “A Change of Mind” published by New Canada Publications. Gerry and Janelle had been married for 14 years and had two young daughters.

May 18

1982 – One of the oldest detachments in Manitoba is at Lac du Bonnet approximately 111 kms/70 miles north east of Winnipeg on the west bank of the Winnipeg River. In addition to policing the local area members were required to fly into the isolated communities of Berens River, Bloodvein and Little Grand Rapids and spend several days there because there was no permanent police presence.

On May 13, 1982 Constable #35164 Thomas W. Sutcliffe and Special Constable #S2445 H.N. Hughie Semple was dropped off at Bloodvein where they spent two days before flying on to Berens River. The pair was scheduled to fly back to Lac du Bonnet on the 17th, but bad weather forced them to stay over. 

Shortly before noon on the 18th the police received a complaint that a man was firing a gun into the air near a house, so the two policemen climbed into their 4 wheel drive suburban and headed over to the residence. They quickly found the suspect, 21-year-old Lawrence Francis Bear walking down the road carrying a shotgun. The officers came to a stop in front of the gunman and when he realized it was the police he began arguing with them, then raised his weapon and pointed it at the vehicle, alternating his aim between driver and passenger. Both policemen quickly exited their vehicle and taking cover behind the doors with their revolvers drawn they ordered him to drop his weapon. 

Standing only twenty yards away the gunman suddenly fired his shotgun at Constable Semple hitting the open passenger door of the police truck shattering the window. Some of the pellets from the blast struck Semple in the head and his right eye, resulting in Semple permanently losing the sight in that eye. Both policemen immediately returned fire wounding the gunman and quickly took him into custody.

Lawrence Francis Bear was convicted of discharging a firearm and using a firearm in the commission of an offence and was sentenced to eight years in prison. Both policemen were awarded the Commanding Officers Commendation and Hughie Semple continued to serve in the RCMP until he left the Force in 1988 and returned to his home community of Berens River where he became one of the Band Councillors. Constable Tom Sutcliffe transferred out of Lac du Bonnet in 1986 and was later promoted to Corporal and eventually transferred to the Integrated Proceeds of Crime Unit in Winnipeg.

1996 – Commendation awarded to #36840 R. Doug Aird of the Whitehorse, Yukon detachment, for saving Patrick Malloy from drowning after he had jumped into the river while attempting to evade arrest.

2000 – The Public Service Outstanding Achievement Award was issued to #21259 / O.988 Assistant Commissioner Cleve Cooper.

May 17

1939 – King George VI 1895-1952, along with Queen Elizabeth and the royal party leave Quebec City for Montreal aboard the Royal Train that comprises two vice-regal cars and five cars from Canadian Pacific Railways and five from Canadian National Railways. The train is painted in royal blue and aluminum, and royal crowns are affixed to the running boards of both locomotives. For security reasons a second train, carrying officials and members of the press, travels ahead of the royal train by an hour and the rail line is shut down so no other trains are permitted to travel within this period.

1965 – #23837 Constable Kenneth Gerald Kornelson, a recruit from Mission, British Columbia was accidentally electrocuted while swimming in the pool at the RCMP Academy “Depot” in Regina. When #23716 Cst. Brian Baldwin, the pool orderly that evening, witnessed Kornelson in trouble, he dove into the pool and pulled him to the surface. In the aftermath of the investigation, investigators were surprised that Baldwin did not get electrocuted as well. It was later determined that Kornelson touched an underwater lamp and was electrocuted.

His story was forgotten with the passage of time until members of the Mission Detachment gathered with others at his grave in the Hatzic Cemetery in Mission on the 50th anniversary of his tragic death. 

To date his name has not been added to the RCMP Honour Roll but thanks to the efforts of a Troopmate his name was added to the roll on the Peace Officers Memorial at Parliament Hill in the nation’s capital. 

1966 – On this day 45 year old Paul-Joseph Chartier, attempted to blow up the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa. 

The mentally deranged former truck driver who had a hatred for politicians and homosexuals walked into the Parliament Building with several sticks of dynamite in his pockets and watched the proceedings in the House of Commons from the gallery. He then left the gallery and went into the washroom and lit the bomb and was intending to go back to the House of Commons when it exploded and he was killed instantly.

When the Police searched his rooming house in Toronto they found several other sticks of dynamite and a number of writings and letters that he had sent to newspapers in which he stated his plan was to “exterminate as many members of Parliament as possible,” because of the actions of rich and greedy politicians and the government, made it so no one could afford to live and that he was prepared to die in the process. 

Thanks to a heavy wooden door, the blast was confined to the washroom which was heavily damaged, but no other part of the building was seriously damaged.

1970 – For over three hours a squad of men from the Nanaimo BC detachment led by #16431 Staff Sergeant Gilbert A. Perry had surrounded a house because a mentally disturbed man armed with a rifle and handguns had fired off more than 80 shots.  Attempts to reason with him had failed and tear gas had no effect on the suspect.

The man finally came onto deck and S/Sgt. Perry was able to calm him down enough that Perry could approach him and remove a pistol lying at his feet and then take him into custody. Perry was awarded the Commissioner’s Commendation For Bravery and the City of Nanaimo presented him with the Silver Medal for meritorious service.

Perry had been a member of the BC Provincial Police and joined the RCMP when it was absorbed in 1950 and he retired to pension in 1974.

1992 – The Medal of Bravery was awarded to #26701 Sergeant Robert S. Guthrie, who along with another citizen attempted to save three people trapped in a burning car near Millet, Alberta.

Sgt. Guthrie was off duty when he heard a car crash and an explosion and rushed to the scene. Arriving at the same time as his neighbour who also saw flames coming out of the rear of the vehicle that had three occupants trapped inside the vehicle. They immediately ran over to the car and tried to open the doors and managed to bend the window frame of the passenger door enough to reach in and pull the driver out. Before they could free the other two passengers from the back seat, the flames engulfed the vehicle and the two passengers perished.