True and Fascinating Canadian History
Tales from Fort Healy
A Constable Goes Off To School
by J. J. Healy
Old Vets are often amazed at how many small details they can recall from their early police career whether it be forty or fifty years ago. Vets do not easily forget the name of their first Corporal or Sergeant, their first sudden death, or their first assault, or first arrest, their first break and enter or first foot chase to apprehend someone.
I, too, often look back over the years and fondly recall particular incidents such as those which I have mentioned. The following gem is called 'A Constable Goes to School'. Here I recall the hundreds of visits which I've made to schools to present a safety talk or to show a video to the children. These memories are common in the minds of many other Veterans because school presentations are truly all part of the junior police officer's job.
My reflections began this way. For several years since my retirement from the Force in 2001 I have been a volunteer at an Ottawa elementary school.
Each Thursday, I participate in Ontario’s Literacy Program for Early Learners and I especially help those children who experience some difficulty with reading including the correct pronunciation of words and the recognition of literacy road signs such as the comma, period, quotation marks and the question mark.
Upon entering the classroom on my first day, I introduced myself as ‘Joe’ and I told the Grade 2 children that I was a retired RCMPolice Officer and that I was a volunteer with the school Reading Program.
Looking back over my school visits, I can attest that in one hundred percent of my visits, one child or another will ask to see my gun (a practice which is never done) or they want to see the interior of the police car and experiment with the siren and the emergency light system.
I learned early to be 'on my toes' while at school. I am also grateful for scraps of survival hints which were tossed my way from my Burnaby Detachment Trainers including: Barry Daniels, Jim Stewart, 'Bud' Baldwin, Dale Featherstone and Ray Kealan. In short, a police officer must learn very early in his or her career invaluable lessons about classroom 'tricks'. In the school environment, a police officer has to survive and be ready to adapt to the unexpected situation or the unusual question from a child.
Teachers for tiny tots are prepared for unusual situations or embarrassing questions much as police officers are trained to be not caught off guard on the street. In class, however, young teachers in particular, love to see police officers squirm with a red and perspiring face. One has to be prepared for questions such as: 'Have you ever gotten a speeding ticket?' or 'Where is your horse? Do you sleep with your horse, Is your horse a boy or girl?' or 'Can you come home and teach my mom to drive?'
Inevitably, a police officer will also be frustrated by one or more of the following situations; allowing kids to see the ID badge then pass it around the class until they 'forget' where it is. Or, discovering that children have locked themselves inside the police car because they've seen the keys left in the ignition which was required to activate the siren. Or, allowing kids to apply the handcuffs to the officer and the teacher's chair after 'promising' to unlock the cuffs after a few minutes!
Although I am now retired, I found that things were no different today and on this first occasion at school the children did not let me down.
Sure enough, a little boy asked me, “Do you have a gun?” “Well, no,” I said. “I don’t carry a gun because I’m retired from the Mounties and I’m also off duty. However, I do have my badge,” which I produced.
I then explained the significance of the markings on the RCMP gold badge to the children. Then I mentioned the buffalo in the centre of the badge and the connection between Canada`s early settlers and the North West Mounted Police. Well, forget history because the word ‘buffalo’ made the children laugh and giggle. One boy shouted, “Let’s call him ‘Buffalo Joe’.”
So, at school from that time onwards ‘Buffalo Joe’ has been my handle. In addition to helping the boy with his reading I am also encouraging him to eventually become a future Commissioner!
I had won the day in several ways on that first day at school as a volunteer. First, I didn't have to sheepishly call the Corporal to bring the spare car keys from the office to the school to unlock the police car. Secondly, I didn't lose my police badge. Thirdly, I honestly pointed out that I no longer have a horse although I once did have one and his name was 'Honey'. Having earned my stripes with the students,, I became entitled to coffee and cookies with the teachers!
Sometimes, you just gotta be honest with kids. But, as a police officer, this 'ole Vet recommends that you treat mischievous tiny tots at school as another risky part of your patrol zone. You've been given the warning.
And remember too -- Don't let the kids lock you outside your police
cruiser!
Reporting from Fort Healy,
J. J. Healy
June 15th, 2007
