True and Fascinating Canadian History
Vet of the Month: February, 2023
O.600, Commissioner Robert H. Simmonds, OC
by J. J. Healy,
RCMP Vets Ottawa, ON
Robert Henry Simmonds was born in Keatley, SK on April 6th, 1926. He served overseas during the last year of WWII, and he served Canada from 1977 to 1987 as the 17th Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). Commissioner Simmonds died in Ottawa in the presence of his family on January 17th, 2023. He was 96 years of age. He will long be remembered as a model of the true Canadian police officer. Commissioner Simmonds lived a full, exciting and adventurous life. He left a great legacy of law enforcement and dedicated service to Canadians.
My professional friendship with Commissioner Simmonds went back to 1966. As a new Inspector, he had been appointed Officer In Charge of Burnaby Detachment on British Columbia's Lower Mainland. I had the good fortune to know him all these years, and to also serve a long spell under his command as Commissioner. During the weeks and final few days of his life I had the honour to accompany retired RCMP Ottawa Veterans Kevin Mole and Roy Berlinquette to visit and share memories with Commissioner Simmonds in his nursing home. I fondly recall his quick smile.
At 96 years of age, Commissioner Simmonds' memory was remarkable and his wit was sharp. His face quickly lit up each time that we visited him. During each visit, he wanted to know about current happenings in the Force, and he took particular interest in the many ways that the Force had changed since his tenure as Commissioner which ended with his retirement in 1987. Roy Berlinquette mentioned a few changes at RCMP “HQ” especially the increasing role of Civilian Members (CM’s). Roy also mentioned that he (Roy) and I were Troopmates. Roy said that I was our Troop’s Right Marker. I told the Commissioner that Roy gave me all sorts of headaches at ‘Depot’ in 1964. It caused him to laugh non-stop. I could tell that 'Depot' Division held a special and memorable place in his heart.
Commissioner Simmonds said that he was lucky to have lived a long life, and he reflected easily on his policing career which began in 1947. He easily recalled some of the 'ole timers whom he had served with down through the years. He recalled, for instance, that Commissioner S. T. Wood inspected the Musical Ride in 1947. He also recalled the many occasions that he had met Queen Elizabeth. He mentioned that the Queen was an easy conversationalist especially about the horses which the Force had presented to her over the years. I sensed that he felt blessed to have led a life of such fond memories.
One morning, the topic turned to the separation of the Security Service from the RCMP in 1984. Commissioner Simmonds said that the duties of the Security Service should not have been part of the policing mandate of the RCMP. The responsibilities of the Security Service were most apt to clash with the duties of police officers. I asked him if he recalled Assistant Commissioner H. P. Tadeson whom I met as CO of ‘Depot’ in the mid-1970’s. He was curious about why I would mention Tadeson’s name, so I recalled that Tadeson has a long history in Security Service both at ‘HQ’ and in Toronto. He spoke highly of H. P. Tadeson, and he said that Tadeson was someone whom he (Simmonds) could rely on for telling him what was going on inside the Security Service during the MacDonald Commission in the early 1980's.
During another visit, Kevin Mole explained how technology has affected and changed Canadian policing. The topic of changes to policing piqued the Commissioner's attention, and he was fascinated by Kevin's explanation of computers in today's police cruisers. Kevin also mentioned Floral, Saskatchewan, and Commissioner Simmonds was quick to recall that Floral was the birthplace of hockey great Gordie Howe. The Commissioner recalled that he watched the Junior World Hockey Series on TV, but he thought that hockey continues to be a rough sport, and that players continue to receive serious injuries in spite of their protective equipment. Commissioner Simmonds preferred football over hockey. He boasted of being a lifelong Saskatchewan Rough Rider fan, and he fondly recalled the days of Quarterback Ron Lancaster and Hall of Famer George Reed. Football was in his blood.
Commissioner Simmonds' RCMP career is well documented. He joined the Force on April 23, 1947. He underwent Basic Police Training at “Depot” Division in Regina and subsequently he was posted to Detachments in Edmonton, Innisfail, Three Hills, Wetaskiwin, Hanna and Calgary, AB. In 1953, he was a member of the Musical Ride that participated in the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in England. In 1957, he was transferred to Calgary Subdivision as a criminal investigator. He was Commissioned to the rank of Inspector in 1964. Soon, he was transferred to BC.
From 1966 to 1976, Commissioner Simmonds served in Burnaby and Victoria including assignments in the Staffing and Personnel Branch and as the Officer Commanding Victoria Subdivision. In 1976, he was promoted from Chief Superintendent to Deputy Commissioner In Charge of Administration in Ottawa. On September 1, 1977, he was appointed by the Prime Minister as the 17th Commissioner of the RCMP. In 1987, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada.
Commissioner R. H. Simmonds was a great Canadian and a person of great character. He never forgot his modest and humble roots which began in Saskatchewan. As a boy, his early education was taken in a prairie one room schoolhouse. He was a friend of the constable on the street, and he never sought attention from influential bureaucrats in Ottawa. He unquestionably went the extra mile over ten years while meeting the strenuous demands of the Commissioner's Office. His reputation was built on hard work and high ethical standards. His life was one of service to Canadians. It was a special honour for me to have known him, and most memorable for me to be close to him in his final days. May he Rest in Peace.
Commissioner Simmonds' spouse Suzanne Sarault predeceased him. When the time comes, Commissioner Simmonds will be buried with his spouse in the RCMP National Memorial Cemetery in Ottawa.
