True and Fascinating Canadian History
Vet of the Month: June 2012
Reg.#35051 / O.1875, C/Superintendent Douglas E. Coates
RCMP Vets. Ottawa, ON
Chief Superintendent Doug Coates was killed in Haiti as the result of an earthquake. Another RCMP colleague, Sgt. Mark Gallagher of Nova Scotia also lost his life at his temporary rented home in Haiti on the same day. The two RCMP members had been assigned to the Haiti UN Peacekeeping Mission.
I attended Doug's funeral on January 27, 2010. I also had the honour to be asked by Doug's wife, Lise, to act as an Honorary Pall Bearer. His funeral was held in Ottawa's Notre Dame Basilica -- Home of a loving God -- always present for the Homecoming of the loving good. Doug was a professional police officer and a good person. He loved his family, his wife, daughter and his two sons. He was passionate about the poor of Haiti and their plight.
Reg.#35051 / O.1875, Chief Superintendent Doug Coates was a remarkable Canadian police officer who practiced his Christian faith. I hold very special memories of Doug and I dedicate this personal story to him.
At Doug's funeral, much was said in mourning by his friends. I, too felt privileged to have a special, professional relationship with him. I also knew Lise. Beginning many years before, I was Doug's first Supervisory Officer in the International Training and Peacekeeping Branch. Our friendship began this way.
In 1991, I was selected to represent Canada and the RCMP as a Police Trainer at the rank of Inspector on a two year assignment in Namibia, south west Africa. Every six months I returned to Canada for a week or so for debriefings -- to review the program's progress with Senior Officers. Throughout these short visits, I lived at the Canadian Police College.
Upon returning from Namibia, one Saturday morning about 1992, I was sitting alone in the CPC Cafeteria having breakfast when I was approached by Corporal D. E. Coates. At the time, Doug was assigned to Ottawa's S.E.R.T. (Special Emergency Response Team). I was Doug's senior by fifteen years service and the OIC of the RCMP's newly formed International Training Section reporting to the DOT (Director of Training). Doug and I had not previously met each other.
Upon meeting Doug, I gained two immediate impressions; the way in which he was dressed and the manner in which he spoke. Doug was impressive. His jeans were clean and pressed. My first thought of Doug was 'Pro' as in professional. He was tall, slim, with straight posture, a dark complexion with black wavy hair combed straight back.
His eyes presented a warm, smiling personality. Doug joined me and we shared a conversation for the remainder of the morning. Doug's first spoken words were about police work and his role with S.E.R.T. But, he also expressed some thoughts about his future.
He was curious about the International Training Program in Namibia. The RCMP's first UN Mission had been to Namibia in 1989 - 1990 and my two year transfer was a follow up to the UN Mission. I was extremely impressed by the way in which Doug spoke about his concern for people. I detected certain mechanisms turning in Doug's thoughts. We spoke of future work possibilities. After breakfast, I thought: 'I would not resist a future opportunity to work with Corporal Doug Coates'. In a few years, Doug and I would meet again.
After Namibia in 1993, I was assigned to the Czech Republic for a year. After returning to Canada again in 1994, the RCMP was in a state of organizational change. Commissioner Philip Murray had decided to amalgamate the two units which had been responsible for international business; the International Training Unit in which I was the Inspector and Peacekeeping Logistics in which Doug was a Sergeant. The new Branch was renamed: The International Training and Peacekeeping Branch. Doug and Peacekeeping Logistics reported to me and I reported to the Director of Protective Operations.
This new reorganization of the two Units brought Doug and I into a much closer professional working relationship. For me, the next five years were inspirational due hugely to the team approach which Doug and I shared. He was filled with hope.
Doug possessed an immense work drive based on dependability and trust. He helped move us forward and make great strides in our international initiatives. I can honestly decline any suggestion that it was necessary for me to supervise Doug. In fact, we met so regularly that I felt like his coach -- he already knew the path which he had to take with the UN. He simply wanted to inform me. Doug required no supervision. Our two Units had amalgamated and Doug unquestionably was the new bond which made unity possible.
Most employees do their fair share at their workplace. Exceptions exist. Doug was one exception. It was an exciting and enjoyable time for me to coach Doug on the Peacekeeping side of RCMP Operations. He was an expert on the philosophy of United Nations Peacekeeping. He exploded ideas to me faster than movements of a UN convey.
He possessed a unique insight into the workings of the UN's Security Council as well as the probable positions which might be taken by the Canadian government.
Much of UN Peacekeeping activities can be described as frustrating, yet Doug forever maintained a sophisticated and optimistic approach. I admired his practical field police experience; we both had served equal time in operations after 'Depot' -- Doug had served for eight years in 'K' Div. (Alberta) and I had spend five years in 'E' Div. (BC) and three years in 'L' Div. (PEI).
There were times when we had no alternative but to laugh -- especially when our work and readines was complete but the Mission was unexpectedly delayed. Peacekeeping Operations was a rare opportunity for me to co-work with an employee like Doug -- a straight forward, fully trusted companion. The RCMP was very proud to have him among its ranks.
Over time, Doug and I realized that we had much in common. Doug was a police officer who was capable of sharing his time between his family and his police profession. These were the years prior to my marriage, but I was always curious to learn about his family and children. Our two wives were teachers. Doug's daughter excelled at school and he said that the two boys loved to ski. I knew that they were capable of skiing at the professional level.
I had completed my undergrad degree in Criminology and Sociology at U of T. Doug was in the final stages of his undergrad Criminology degree at the University of Ottawa. I had completed my Master's degree at the University of Ottawa, and after his BA, Doug intended to read for his Master's at RMC.
I had successfully worked on my Commission to Inspector in Toronto's Commercial Crime, Doug was about to embark on his path to Commission. And, I was able to mentor him. The time came for Doug to write his Inspector's exams and the process led to his eventual promotion to Inspector. It was a pleasure for me to affectingly refer to my partner in the Branch as 'my Inspector'. The new rank renewed and inspired Doug to move forward with new international plans.
In 1999, I had decided to undertake a UN Mission for nine months in Bosnia. Doug and I began more serious discussions about the future of the Branch. By this time, after five years or more in the International Training and Peacekeeping Branch, I was nearing retirement service.
I encouraged Doug to replace me as OIC after I had departed for Bosnia. He was in the position as OIC Peacekeeping Operations when he left Canada for Haiti and suffered from the earthquake on that fateful day in 2010.
The mass and Regimental church service for Doug was emotional, dignified and solemn. On the one hand, it was a truly sad experience for me to touch his casket and say farewell. On the other hand, warmth was apparent in everyone's touch and voice especially with Lise and their children. As well, there was a great sense of relief that he had been found in the rubble and brought home to Canada.
Doug was buried at the RCMP Memorial at Beechwood Cemetery, Ottawa on a dark, overcast and bitterly cold January afternoon. As I stood at his grave and as I presented him a Final Salute my emotions were of disbelief. Doug and I had shared a memorable career together in Peacekeeping. Now, at Doug's grave, I too was overcome with loneliness and cold.
Doug Coates was an exceptional Canadian police officer.
A Man of Distinction. A friend.
Reporting from Fort Healy,
J. J. Healy
June 23, 2012
on that terrible, sad day in Haiti;
Mark Gallagher and Doug Coates.
In Memory of Sgt. Mark Gallagher, 'H' Division
I thought of Sgt. Gallagher and his family also during Doug's funeral service. I did not know Mark Gallagher personally but prior to being posted in Nova Scotia, he served in New Brunswick where some of my family once knew him. They also saw him regularly on TV as Sgt. Gallagher was a spokesperson for the Force in the Maritimes. My family enjoyed his way of speaking on TV, he was informative, professional and approachable.
While I was OIC Peacekeeping Branch, I had opportunities to visit Haiti several times over a long period. The requirements for the Haitian people in every dimension of life are greatly needed, things such as: clean water, health care, education, food, housing, child care, medicine and dentistry. Canadian police officers cannot and are not expected to overcome all these problems.
But, police officers like Sgt. Gallagher were in Haiti for only one purpose. That is, to serve people in a friendly, professional, helpful, hopeful way. Canadian police officers like Sgt. Galagher give Haitians hope. I would like to have known Sgt. Gallagher better.
I want to express my condolences to Sgt. Gallagher's family. I am sorry for his loss.
I thank the RCMP for providing me with a majority of the photos which I used in this farewell story.
