No Easy Ride: Reflections on My Life in the RCMP Read Online Free PDF

the target and were lying on the floor. He checked the box of shells from which he had loaded the weapon and discovered that all the bullets in the box had been tampered with. Someone had removed the lead and emptied out some of the powder. Enraged, he demanded to know who was responsible. No one admitted to the prank, so the entire troop was confined to barracks. After several days, Parker confessed. He was further punished for his stunt, but the troop carried the stigma of his actions. His actual career in the force was very brief, as he fell into several serious disciplinary jams related to finances and was eventually dismissed.
    Also in our midst was a young Charney Biln, the first Sikh ever to join the Force. His first posting would be in Drumheller, Alberta, where he was immediately accepted and respected by the community. Tragically, Charney and his new wife lost their lives in a traffic accident just three years into his service. Francois Dubois, one of our prevailing French-Canadian candidates, was so physically attractive that women would actually stalk him when he walked the streets of Regina. Young and inexperienced, Francois was completely mystified by the strange spell he cast over the opposite sex. He too would die in a traffic accident early in his service.
    Dick Havers, the eldest of our group, was a 25-year-old who had left the Air Force to join the RCMP. His air of superiority thrust him into almost daily conflict with instructors. Dave Tough, a young man from the Maritimes, was so physically awkward he could not swing his arms and march at the same time. Tough suffered unmercifully at the hands of PT instructors. His common sense and mature philosophy were in direct contrast to his deficient coordination, though. He persevered through the agony of training to become one of the most successful of our number in his police career. Another troop-mate, R.R. Bouck, went to British Columbia where he had a distinguished career in detachment policing, winning two commissioner’s commendations for bravery. Terry David Mulligan, one of the youngest in the troop, briefly served in Alberta, where he discovered his talents lay in the field of broadcasting. He left the Force after three short years and went on to be a radio and television personality in the Vancouver area. Don Gamble, a farm boy from Gull Lake, Saskatchewan, became one of Canada’s foremost handwriting experts while serving with the RCMP Crime Detection Laboratory. There were clowns and cut-ups, young men of serious mien, naïve farm boys and those who really had no idea why they were there. It was amazing to witness the melding of divergent personalities into a single cohesive unit.
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    FOR INSPECTION
    One of the more impressive movements performed by RCMP recruits during their dismounted cavalry drills is a movement called “For Inspection, Draw Revolvers.” The 32-person troop lines up in two rows of 16. The right marker is situated at the extreme right front and choreographs the action with head movements.
    On a sunny July day, our troop was preparing for our drill graduation. Being the senior troop, we were at the front of the daily noon parade. This parade is a time-honoured tradition. It takes place on the main square in the training division and launches the recruit troops to their afternoon classes. Knowing that we were going to be demonstrating the “For Inspection” movement, we anxiously awaited the order from the sergeant major, which came suddenly.
    Our right marker took three smart paces to the front and snapped an “eyes left,” his every move scrutinized by his troop-mates, acting in unison and on cue. When the right marker nodded his head slightly, we simultaneously moved our right hands and slapped our revolver holsters. Another nod and the holster flap was undone, right hand on the weapon. On the order from the sergeant major, revolvers were drawn and held with the elbow bent at a precise 45 degree angle, ready for