Why did you move from Quebec?
For work, when you sign up with the RCMP, you agree to work anywhere in Canada. Alberta became my home. I was told one month from graduation in Regina that I was getting posted in Hanna, AB.
What exactly is your job, in your own words?
I solve DV issues, review cases, help members with their investigations and facilitate DV training across southern AB.
What area are you in charge of?
All of southern AB. (Draw a line from OLDS to OYEN, AB. Anything south of that)
What is the longest case you’ve worked on?
Good question. I have cases that I follow, work on and give my advice for periods up to 3 months before we lay charges. I have a file right now that has been in court for about two years.
How do you deal with more than one case at a time?
It is called: Delegation. I have to or I will never be able to assist all the members.
What’s the strangest case you’ve ever been on?
All my cases are confidential, which means I can’t discuss them with anyone. Having said that, I see so many different cases, not one is the same. When I think that I have seen the craziest case, another one pops out.
Do you work with a partner? Why or why not?
I am the only DVC for the southern district. Gleichen, Airdrie, Brooks and Cochrane have also coordinators for their own detachment that I assist on a regular basis. I believe, there should be at least 5 of me in the southern district but Provincial money dictates that we can only have one position per district. AB. has 4 districts. So 4 of us in AB.
What was the most significant case you’ve worked?
I worked on couple DV murders since I have been in this position. You have to act fast in these cases in order to preserve evidence and prosecute the culprit.
What is something weird that helped you solve a case?
A picture found in the phone of the suspect putting him at the scene of a murder after he denied being there.
How realistic are the detectives and police officers on TV?
Not at all.
Are the scientific techniques on TV similar to the real thing?
No, some are realistic but it takes days to obtain warrants to search a phone or a computer for example.
Do you feel pity for the victims of your cases? Have you ever not felt pity? Do you have some examples?
I can’t give examples but I feel for victims of DV. I find it hard when kids are involved. I usually go home at the end of the day and hug my kids for no reason. They find me weird.
Have you ever felt pity for any of the perpetrators? Do you have some examples?
No examples but sometimes when I look into their past history, I realized that some perpetrators are stuck in a vicious circle and they are repeating what was done to them years earlier.
Why do you think being a detective is important?
Because some cases need more attentions than others. We have investigators, detectives that have some kind of an expertise, dedicated time and a true desire to solve a case.
What is the best part of your job?
Helping people.
What is the hardest/ worst part of your job?
Reading negative, upsetting cases all the time.