True and Fascinating Canadian History
Vet of the Month: August, 2015
Reg.#24968, Sergeant & Chief of Police
Robert Michael Brent Crowhurst. M. O. M.
RCMP Vets. Ottawa, ON
Canada produces only two kinds of police officers; the good and the very best. In the latter class, Brent Crowhurst was at the top of a very short list. The chambers of his huge heart were filled with generosity and swirling nearby in orbits around his heart were the main attributes of a true police officer; honesty, ethical behaviour, compassion and the care and well being of those around him.
Brent Crowhurst was one of Canada's finest police officers. After a fifty year career in policing, Brent passed away on July 29th, 2015 in Nova Scotia. He was also Canada's longest serving police officer.
Brent was born in Moncton, New Brunswick in 1947. Throughout his school years, he was deeply influenced by good stories which he had heard and read about regarding the RCMP. His single passion was to join the Force. He never forgot his boyhood days which were grounded in patience, kindness, courtesy and gentle manners. The RCMP must have recognized Brent's genuine character as his application to join the Force was handled expediently and successfully. Within a very unusual short time span, Brent was on the train bound for 'Depot' Division in Regina, SK. He was eighteen years of age.
For most recruits, the initiation at 'Depot' is highly stressful, yet Brent easily fell into step with the seeming chaos, the endless tasks and the many years of tradition. 'Depot' felt like home to Brent. From the outset, he was comfortable in the RCMP uniform and, more importantly, his mind did not require any readjustment from being a civilian to the role of a solid police officer in Canadian society.
Whereas his Troop mates might have compared the challenges of a police career to foreign policy, Brent found the 'Depot' syllabus to be a natural fit. The manner in which he was properly taught topics such as: 'The Care and Handling of Prisoners', 'Legal Rights of the Accused', 'Access to Legal Defence' and 'The Taking of Statements' simply made good sense. He excelled at 'Depot' and he was identified as a future Potential Police Instructor. After Recruit Training, Brent was transferred to Nova Scotia.
I met Brent for the first time in 1974. We had been selected as Academic Instructors at 'Depot'. For a short spell, we were Teammates on 'Scenario Training' in the mock up Detachment. I was very proud to work with him and I could not help but notice Brent's knowledge, expertise and manners around the Detachment. Even though the skits were role plays, Brent didn't let seemingly little yet important things escape his notice.
One day, a recruit brought a 'prisoner' into the Detachment. The 'prisoner' was in handcuffs, but the recruit had failed to cuff the prisoner behind his back and he had failed to engage the miniature locking mechanism on the handcuffs. The recruit's failure and oversight allowed the 'prisoner' to deliberately squeeze the handcuffs so tightly that they scarred his wrists.
In this situation, Brent's acute observations immediately focused on the prisoner's proper care while he was in police custody. Then, the faults and omissions of the recruit were pointed out to him. In Brent's mind, if so called little procedural things were not done properly on Detachment, then the important things were likely to be done sloppily. Rightfully so, the proper care of the prisoner received the same attention given to the safety of the police officer.
One day, Brent asked me to drive him to an unexpected dental appointment in downtown Regina. After the dental visit, Brent and I were walking back to the police cruiser when we noticed a homeless man on the street. We were in full RCMP uniform. I recall how Brent knelt down and spoke to the man lending a few words of encouragement. Then, he slipped the man a donation. The incident said allot about Brent's character and his police officer personality. On the one hand, he appreciated his life as a Canadian police officer. On the other hand, he shared a little compassion towards the men and women who live on the street. The conditions under which people live on the street is familiar to most police officers who have 'walked the beat'.
After leaving 'Depot' in 1977, Brent returned to Nova Scotia. Over the ensuing years, he remained active on Detachment and he was recognized for his expertise in serious drug investigations throughout Nova Scotia. In addition to receiving promotions, Brent received a Commanding Officer's Commendation in 1985 for intercepting a major illicit drug importation. The seizure was 13 tons of hashish. To this day, the drug seizure ranks as the most important.
Although Brent retired from the RCMP in 1992, he remained active in the policing profession. After retirement, Brent was successful at being named as Chief of Lunenburg-Mahone Bay Police Department. After a few years, Brent was named once again as Chief of the Bridgewater, Nova Scotia Police Service. In 2011, Brent was seconded back to the RCMP as Bureau Director of Criminal Intelligence Nova Scotia. When he passed away, Brent was still serving as D/CINS.
In 2009, Brent was named into The Order of Merit of the Police Forces by Michaelle Jean, Governor General of Canada. The unusually high recognition was created in 2000 "to recognize conspicuous merit and the exceptional service by members and employees of the Canadian police forces whose contributions extend beyond protection of the community."
Certainly Brent Crowhurst was a very deserving recipient of The Order of Merit. He was recognized because he stood as a model of the good Canadian police officer. It was a very special honour to have known him and to have been his partner at 'Depot'.
In the days and years ahead, I will remember Brent fondly and especially so for the valuable lessons which he imparted to me.
Brent was buried in the Parks Cemetery, Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia.
Reporting from Fort Healy,
J. J. Healy
August 23, 2015
