True and Fascinating Canadian History
Vet of the Month: January 2013
Reg.#14040, Staff Sergeant E. J. 'Ernie' Ruttan
RCMP Vets. Ottawa, ON
To reminisce or to think fondly about something or someone in the past is an exercise which is encouraged because of its positive effects on one's brain. At my age, I'm in favour of anything healthy.
Truly, after one is retired from a long career in the Force, there is a tendency to let one's mind wander back over the years and recall some of the personalities one had met. Often the situation is as comical as the person whom you recall.
Although nearly fifty years have passed by, I can recall meeting Staff Sergeant Ruttan very clearly. He was the Second In Command whenI arrived at Burnaby Detachment in May of 1965. He often roamed around the Detachment and he was easy to spot because he was a tall man and he had a huge, imposing frame. He also had a fast smile and a very friendly disposition. But, most of all, I also recall Staff Ruttan because he loved lobster.
Burnaby Detachment was my first posting after Graduation from 'Depot'. Upon arrival, I was assigned to General Police Duties. I had only been at Burnaby a few weeks when my older sister announced her wedding plans. Her future husband was in the Canadian Air Force so she asked me to wear my RCMP uniform. The wedding was to be held in my home province of New Brunswick.
I submitted a Request to Wear Red Serge and not too long afterwards Staff Sergeant Ruttan hand delivered his favourable response to wear Red Serge. But, he also had an additional and very special request of his own -- which was, for me to return from the east coast with some lobsters.
As a native 'herring choker', I knew that New Brunswick was famous for fiddleheads and the sandy Fundy coastline, but I had never given much thought to transporting lobster from one coast of Canada to another. I didn't even know if the idea was possible? Nevertheless, I do recall Staff Ruttan smacking his lips as he approached me. As he handed me the Approval to Wear Red Serge, he said, 'Yes, my son, my wife and I would sure love to have some lobster...see what you can do, ok Constable'? I didn't have the nerve to be honest with Staff Sergeant Ruttan and tell him forthrightly about the difficulties which I foresaw with fetching some lobsters.
So, in July, 1965 I was off to the east coast and New Brunswick with my sister's invitation to her wedding and a very serious mandate to sure fetch some lobster for a hungry Staff Sergeant.
The unfortunate part of this whole episode was that Staff Sergeant Ruttan had no idea of the obstacles which faced me to come up with some lobster. I felt trapped. First, I had received permission to travel on a Canadian Air Force 'boxcar' across Canada for a small fee but one of the restrictions was that passengers were not permitted luggage apart from an overnight bag. In hindsight, I ought to have explained the luggage rule to Staff Ruttan.
The second obstacle which faced me was that the lobster season was closed in New Brunswick during the month of July. What was I to do? The third problem was the distance which I had to travel from my hometown over to the coast in New Brunswick to buy some lobster. And finally, by what method was I to transport a few crabby lobster from New Brunswick back to Burnaby, BC? On the one hand, problems of this magnitude, all relative to lobster, made me feel unquestionably caged in. On the other hand, I was determined not to fail in the quest to find some lobster for my senior Detachment Commander. Almost.
Now, at this point the reader will have to fill in some imaginary blanks in my story. The reason for this shift in onus during story telling time is because of certain fishing and lobster customs in New Brunswick. You see, that's just the way it was in those days. But, I can say that my parents were of great insightfulness and they came to my rescue in my quest to snag some lobster for Staff Sergeant Ruttan.
And so it was that I showed up at Burnaby Detachment with a colourful box under my arm which contained four lovely green lobsters. All Staff Sergeant Ruttan had to do was boil a pot of water and toss the leggy creatures in.
The following day, Staff Sergeant Ruttan was all smiles and accordingly his wife was very pleased also. I can recall Staff Ruttan's comments, he said 'My son, my wife now loves you'!
I did not have the heart to explain to Staff Sergeant Ruttan all the difficulties which faced me to find some lobster. After all, I thought,why expose a Staff Sergeant to a whole mess of problems which essentially had been mine. With a little ingenuity and connections, my parents were able to find some lobster in July and I was able to overcome the limitations of carry on luggage on the return trip to Vancouver with the Canadian Air Force. In the end, everyone had been a winner. Except for the lobsters.
Staff Ruttan must surely have realized that my parents had covered the cost of his lobster supper. In those days, I could not have affordedto purchase lobsters. Yet, it was a memorable experience for me to see Staff Ruttan's smile and for him to tell me about the pleasure he and his wife experienced eating the lobsters. He was very appreciative to me. Afterwards, I thought the lobster experience was probably the last time for me to meet Staff Sergeant Ruttan again. But, I was mistaken.
A couple months later, I received a message to report to Staff Sergeant Ruttan in his office. Lobsters popped into my mind when I was told to see him again. But, the topic on Staff Ruttan's mind was not lobsters but motorcycles.
Staff Ruttan handed me a memo in which he had recommended me to attend a two week Motorcycle Course which was to be conducted in Cloverdale, BC. Wow! I gasped. My world was turning too fast! Just a few weeks earlier, I had been riding a horse in 'Depot'. I had 'walked the beat' on Burnaby's North side for several months. Then, I had driven a police car for several months. And soon, Harley's! Like a flash, I saw myself experiencing an entire career on Traffic Duties! 'Police work', I thought, 'doesn't get any better'! Then, it was my turn to show Staff Sergeant Ruttan my appreciation as we shook hands.
The Motorcycle Course led to a year long posting with Harley's on Pattullo Bridge followed by many more years on a new Harley in 'L' Division. My lifelong admiration and love of Harley's has not diminished. All these Harley experiences were due to a memorable Staff Sergeant Ruttan and a few lobsters.
After Burnaby Detachment, Staff Sergeant Ruttan was transferred as New Westminster Sub/Div NCO. He retired from the Force in 1970.
Reg.#14040, Staff Sergeant E. J. Ruttan died unexpectedly in 2001 while visiting friends in 100 Mile House, BC. He was 85 years young.
I recall him fondly every time I see a lobster or a Harley hog.
Reporting from Fort Healy,
J. J. Healy
January 23, 2013
