Lights, Camera, Action! - Video archives

The West Shore RCMP provides policing services to 7 unique communities. Our officers are highly trained and passionate individuals. These videos highlight our officers policing expertise as well as their diverse backgrounds. We hope these videos give you insight to who we are, and what we do here at the West Shore RCMP. Thanks for watching!

Table of Contents

Serving with Pride

The video below is of Cst. Russell Olsen who is a member of the West Shore RCMP. Cst. Olsen speaks about his personal experience as being a proud gay Canadian police officer. In the video Cst. Olsen is wearing a RCMP shoulder patch in the Pride rainbow colors that was gifted to him by Inspector Todd Preston, Officer in Charge of West Shore RCMP.

Transcription The video is of Cst. Russell Olsen who is a member of the Wets Shore RCMP. Cst. OLSEN speaks about his personal experience as being a proud gay Canadian police officer. In the video Cst. Olsen is wearing a RCMP shoulder patch in the Pride rainbow colors that was gifted to him by Inspector Todd Preston, Officer in Charge of Wets Shore RCMP.

My name is Constable Rusty Olson. I am a 10 year member here with the Royal Canadian mounted police and I am stationed in West Shore, British Columbia.

Pride is a time of the year where I get to reflect on the past history being a proud gay Canadian member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. I’ve come off of a legacy of people before me through the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, and into the 80’s, where my sexuality was a limiting factor to me being able to have a job as a police officer with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. So based on the history, on the shoulders that members before me have paved the way, I feel really proud of the fact that at this point in the year 2020 I’m able to have an occupation like being a police officer with the RCMP. That I represent a portion of the population that is out there that is LGBT. As it stands now, being a member of the RCMP, I moved into a profession that is supportive and that supports me through the process of being out proud gay member if the organization and that I’m able to tell my story and have a seat at the table.

So moving forward with pride month I not only reflect but I also celebrate. I celebrate with my friends, my family and coworkers in the fact that I do have the right to marry and the rights to move forward and be a proud, productive member of society.

So how being a member of the LGBT community has helped me in my job is the fact that I feel I’m able to bring my sensibilities and compassion, my understanding of LGBT issues. Being a member of the community myself in a first hand and realistic way I have a first-hand knowledge of what people are going through and what some of the struggles are, because I myself have gone through some of those struggles. It allows me to identify, in a basically charismatic and nurturing way, identify some of these concerns.

What it means to be an ally is to be a supportive friend. To listen to ask questions to be non-judge mental and to support that person or that member through that conversation and to have that open dialogue.

I think when I would like to share with the community and I think it’s something that’s going on within all of Canada right now is that we are all valuable and worthy of a place at the table. I think having a diverse background only strengthens Canada and to be able to come in and be authentic to who you are it makes us better neighbours, better friends, and better Canadians.

We are taking time to remember and reflect on September 30th

West Shore RCMP officers and municipal staff will be wearing orange on September 30th. We encourage everyone to take time on this day to remember the survivors of Residential Schools. Remember the children who did not come home, and reflect on the ongoing traumatic impacts of Residential Schools.

We are honoured to have Chief Robert Thomas of Esquimalt Nation, Councillor Margaret Charlie of Songhees Nation, West Shore RCMP Cst. Cole Brewer of Okanagan Nation Lower Smilkameen Indian Band and Superintendent Todd Preston along with West Shore RCMP employees, take part in this commemorative video.

Transcription

Scene 1: Three people wearing orange shirts standing outside with the water behind them. Cst. Cole Brewer of the West Shore RCMP standing in the centre playing his drum. Standing on his left is Chief Rob Thomas and standing in his right is Councillor Margaret Charlie.

Cst Brewer begins singing an Indigenous song while drumming.

Scene 2: Song fades out and Cst. Brewer, Chief Thomas and Councillor Charlie are standing together. They introduce themselves and begin speaking about September 30th, Truth and Reconciliation day and Orange Shirt Day.

Chief Thomas: Hello everyone, my name is Chief Rob Thomas from the Esquimalt Nation.

Councillor Charlie: Hello everyone, my name is Margaret Charlie, elected Councillor for Songhees Nation.

Cst. Brewer: I’m Constable Cole Brewer of the Okanagan Nation Lower Smilkameen Indian Band. Every year September 30th marks the national day for Truth and Reconciliation as well as Orange Shirt Day.

Chief Thomas: This day honours the children who never returned home, the survivors of Residential Schools, as well as their families and communities.

Cst. Brewer: Public commemoration of tragic and painful history and the ongoing impact of Residential Schools is a vital component of the reconciliation process.

Councillor Charlie: Orange Shirt Day is an Indigenous led grassroots movement, intended to raise awareness of the family, community and inter-generational impacts of Residential Schools. [And] declare that Every Child Matters.

All together in unison: Hych'ka Siem - this translates to Thank you respected one

Scene 3: Superintendent Todd Preston of the West Shore RCMP, is standing centre wearing an orange shirt. Behind him, standing silently are approximately 30 West Shore RCMP employees also wearing orange shirts.

Superintendent Preston is speaking about the importance of taking the time to remember the victims of Residential schools.

Superintendent Todd Preston: On September 30 th, we encourage all Canadians to wear orange. To honour the Residential School survivors and remember the children that did not come home.

Cst Brewer: [playing his drum and singing and Indigenous song] We are beautiful, because we are Indigenous, because our land is beautiful. Hych'ka

Scene 5: Video comes to an end by depicting the logos of Esquimalt Nation, Songhees Nation, West Shore RCMP and RCMP Government of Canada logos.

These officers will be working during Christmas

For a number of reasons, not everyone gets to spend Christmas with their loved ones. These dedicated RCMP officers will ensure that you get to spend a safe Christmas. Watch these officers speak about what it’s like to work during Christmas, away from their families.

Transcription

RCMP officers work tirelessly

These officers will be working during Christmas...


Pamela: My name is Pamela Thiffeault, I’m a constable for the RCMP and I’ve been here for six months.

Scott: My name is Scott Hait, I’m a constable with the RCMP and I have two and half year of service.


Pamela: I don’t really mind about working on Christmas Day because my family is in Quebec, so I think about them but they are not here with me. And I’ll be spending Christmas with my co-workers.

Scott: Working on Christmas is… is sad but also a little rewarding. It’s sad that I can’t be with my own family and celebrate with the traditions in my own home. But I’m also glad that I can be part of the community and protecting the community and keeping the community safe so that everyone else can have a safe and enjoyable Christmas.

 

Pamela: I want to make sure that everybody can celebrate Christmas with their families and be safe. I want to make sure that no one will be drinking and driving.

Scott: My hope is that I can be out in the community, enjoying the Holiday Season with the community and spreading some joy and just being part of the festivities and the excitement that comes around this time of the season.

 

Pamela: I want to wish everybody a happy Christmas and Holiday Season. Have fun, be safe and enjoy time with your families.

Scott: Enjoy your time with families and friends. Make good decisions. Don’t drink and drive.

Women in policing: spotlight on Cst. Elyse Patten

Listen to Cst. Elyse Patten speak about being a woman in policing. Cst. Patten has 6 years of service with the RCMP. She is passionate about the community she lives and works in. When she is not working, she volunteers her time for charities such as Tour de Rock, Sarah Beckett Memorial run, and more.

Transcription

Video opens with Cst. Elyse Patten sitting and speaking about her experience as a police officer. Several photos of Elyse in and out of uniform are displayed on the screen while she continues to describe her experiences as a police officer.

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My name is Constable Elyse Patten I was recruited out of Victoria, British Columbia, and posted to the West Shore RCMP detachment. I have been a member for six years. I wanted a job where every day was different. I wanted to be able to meet lots of different people. I wanted a job where there was a lot of opportunity to try new things, to learn, to develop, especially with the RCMP the opportunity to travel, to experience new places and communities. (Because) I think it’s really important for my own development and growth that I can see how other cultures and other communities live outside of my bubble (in Victoria).

One of the most common comments that I receive when I’m not working and I tell someone I’m a police officer Is, they are amazed at how nice I am. When we are interacting with people in the community, they are having the worst days of their life, and showing kindness is usually the only thing they remember from that day. They won’t remember what we tell them, what we necessarily did, but they will remember how much kindness we showed them when they were experiencing such horrible things in their life.

I am lucky to live in a community where I grew up and my family lives here. I am a wife and a fur mom to a dog and two cats. I love to play soccer and sports within the community. I love to be involved with different events such as Tour de Rock or the Sarah Beckett Memorial Run, which is definitely a passion project for everyone here at the West Shore detachment.

Women bring a lot to this job as well as men, but it’s a fun job and you get to do things that you would never do in other careers. Don’t feel that you shouldn’t try (to become a police officer), because you’re a woman.

Pregnancy and policing, listen to an officer speak about what it’s like 

In honour of International Women’s day, West Shore RCMP Cst. Nancy Saggar talks about what its like being a pregnant police officer. Cst. Saggar joined the RCMP in 2009 has been a police officer for 11 years and is expecting her first child in March 2021. She is currently the Media Relations Officer at the West Shore RCMP and has experience in a variety of policing positions including frontline policing, serious crimes, First Nations Policing and is a member of the Vancouver Island Crisis Negotiation team.

Transcription

Video opens with Cst. Nancy Saggar speaking. A photo of her being 8.5 months pregnant appears on the screen. The video continues with Cst. Saggar speaking about being a pregnant police officer and her anxieties surrounding how her pregnancy and maternity leave will affect her career goals and aspirations.

Cst. Saggar continues talking about her experience as several photos of her working in uniform are displayed on the screen. The video ends with a photo of her wearing a shirt that says Due in March.

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My name is Constable Nancy Saggar. I’ve been a police officer for 11 years now. I am currently 8 and half months pregnant with my first baby. And so I thought it might be a good idea to talk about pregnancy and policing. So one of my major concerns was, what happens to my career once I become pregnant and I am gone on (maternity) leave for a year to 18 months? Is that going to affect my career aspirations?

Realistically that is an anxiety that I think a lot of women in this job have. I'm not alone in that. What helped me navigate and get through those feelings was to really just sit down and have a frank conversation with my supervisor and bring my concerns to the table. Once I did that, I was actually met with a lot of support from my supervisors and from my bosses. It really helped quash some of the anxieties that I had surrounding my career goals. Sometimes it’s just nice to have a supervisor tell you that you’re still a part of the team.

Just because you become pregnant doesn’t mean that you’re not a contributing member of the RCMP. So I think that is something that is very important for women who are entering this job who either are considering having a family, or maybe you already have a family, and you want to become a police officer, it’s totally possible.

There are going to be adjustments that need to be made, you may not be able to answer the 911 calls, especially the violence situations, the way that you would have if you are in fact caring a child. Obviously at a certain point you’re no longer going to fit into uniform. It’s simply not physically possible to wear a gun belt and put on a kevlar vest when you are heavily pregnant. It’s also just not safe. So that is something that has to be addressed.

I am in a position where I’m able to work from the office and still contribute. There are tons of investigations that are done not necessarily out in the field, but behind the scenes, and so that’s a way that you can contribute. So if you’re out there and you’re thinking is this a job for me? Is it possible that I could be a police officer and be pregnant at the same time? Or be a police officer and be a parent at the same time, and have a family life and have a work life? This is a career that can work for you. There are going to be adjustments that are going to need to be made, but that’s something that you will sit down and discuss with your supervisor and come up with a plan that works.

West Shore RCMP spotlight on RCMP Police Dog Services- Cpl. Sansome and Erik

In celebration of National Police Week, here is a closer look at Cpl. Sansome and his police dog, Erik, who are a members of the West Shore RCMP and South Island Police Dog Services.

Transcription

Video depicts Cpl. Sansome standing and talking while his Police Dog, Erik, is laying by his feet and playing with a chewing toy.

My name is Corporal Melvin Sansome I’m with the West Shore (RCMP), South Island District Police Dog Services. This is my service dog Erik. Erik is a seven year old German Shepherd from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police breeding program in Innisfil Alberta.

We provide a variety of different jobs to the members. From conducting drug searches of houses, vehicles, boats, (to) looking for lost people, finding evidence, doing school talks and demonstrations, (as well as), criminal apprehension’s and tracking.

The best part of my job obviously is working with the dog. The dog is a lot of fun. It’s fun to watch the quirkiness of the dog, It’s fun to watch the way he approaches things. It’s really cool to see him actually doing a task, to actually see him locate a gun or drugs or find someone who’s missing in a bush or clearing a building or something. It’s really fun to see him get animated and perk up…(and) the other members that have never seen it before and they actually get to see it and I see their excitement.

Photo cutaway caption reads: Take a look at Cpl. Sansome and Erik in training…

Cpl. Sansome: RCMP Police Dog! Stop or I’ll send the dog! Stop you’re under arrest! Stop or I’ll send the dog! You will get bit! Hang em up Erik! That a boy, good boy!

Caption on the screen reads: Thanks for watching. Visit www.rcmpcareer.ca , a uniform with your name on it is waiting for you.

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