Never rode a horse

That is not exactly true.   I did ride one on my friend’s farm when I was 11 or 12 but it was only once.   Furthermore, that old work horse was far from the sleek and groomed thoroughbreds they ride in the RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) musical ride.   My nephew by marriage was in the musical ride but that was the closest I got to any semblance of equestrian being part of my 36 year plus career.

Not that I ever aspired to be a part of the musical ride as it was more entertainment than reality for me.   Don’t get me wrong, the musical ride has an important role in promoting the RCMP and Canada.   When I saw it in St. John’s, Newfoundland a few years back, I was so filled with pride and emotion during the performance that I had to rub something out of my eye on a number of occasions.    Yet, it was never something that I wanted to do at any time during my time as a police officer.   No, my reason for joining this organization was much less focused during the initial stages.

My father was an RCMP officer for 34 years before he was aged out in 1987.   At that time, the age limit was 60 and upon reaching that age you had to retire.   He did take it to the Canadian Human Rights Commission and did win a small settlement but he remained retired from the police force.    I was starting my first year in a Bachelor of Arts program at the University of Prince Edward Island when my Dad came to me with one of those father knows best talks.   He suggested I join the RCMP and start a career.   Just think of all the money you could make doing that as opposed to making nothing over the next four years at university.  That’s what he said but then that was the thinking then.   Jobs in the public service and skill trades were available so get them while the gettin’ was good.

I thought about it over the next few months.  I was eighteen and I really didn’t have any idea of what I wanted to do in life and I had no plan for my education other than perhaps treading water so I decided I would do it.   I still wasn’t sure that I wanted to be a police officer (I wasn’t sure until years later) but just after my 19th birthday, I filled out the application and wrote the required essay on exactly why I wanted to enforce the law.

I have been thinking about this blog for a while.    My purpose is to share some stories about my experience as a police officer and who knows I may even share a dark secret or two depending on how comfortable I get with it.    My first little tale will be about one of my first searches and the lasting effect it had on the way I thought about things.   I expect to publish that by Monday at the latest.