HALL, R.D. ((HALL, R.D. (Richard)))

Regimental Number: #24394

Pillar Location: 6 - VI

Troop Number and Year: TR. K 1965/66

Regimental Number: #24394

Pillar Location: 6 - VI

Troop Number and Year: TR. K 1965/66

Trying to document a career with many transfers over 39 years and 7 months is a tough job. But here goes!

Born and raised in Vancouver after high school I moved to Nelson, B.C. to work for Finning Tractor. On a beautiful summer day, I was walking past the RCMP’s Nelson S/D HQs and decided to go in and see how I went about applying for the RCMP. Six months later, December 02, 1965, I was sworn into the Force and provided a bus ticket to get from Nelson to Regina. After being sworn I recall there was a big man in grey sweats sitting with his feet on a desk and as I walked by, he said to me “are you sure you want to join this outfit?” After a twenty-four-hour bus trip, stopping at every small community between Nelson and Regina I arrived at Regina at 06:00. I was told a driver would be there to pick me up. Time went by and no driver. A street person came up to me and asked if I was a “new Mountie”. I explained my plight. He took me in tow. We crossed the street and went to Regina Town Station, he introduced to me to a member in plain clothes as a lost recruit and left. I was taken into the office he made some calls to “Depot” and apparently was told someone would pick me up later in the morning It was a Saturday. He took me for breakfast and around 10:00 a driver (recruit) arrived and took me to “Depot”.

Like all troops we were formed into a 32-man troop, “K” 65/66. We were told we would be the first six-month troop to go through training, cramming in everything that a seven-month troop had taken including equitation. I was appointed the Right Marker of our troop. If there ever was a thankless job in the RCMP it is being the Right Marker. Ask anyone who has been one. Everyone has their own stories about training. The pool, the gym, the Drill Hall, the stables visits to the CSM’s office at 16:30. So many stories but I will leave it at that. Only to say at the end of training my Drill Instructor pulled me aside and told to get some experience in the field and then apply to come back as Drill Instructor.

I was posted to Peace River S/D in “K” Div., I had to check on a map where that was. In Review Order I travelled by day liner from Regina to Edmonton, over-night at “K” Div. HQs and the next morning flew in Review Order to Peace River. Lodged in Single Man’s Quarters until it was decided which detachment I would be posted to. I was sent to a two-man detachment. My accommodations were in a back room off the detachment office next to the cell block. A bed and a small bathroom. The town had no paved roads, no laundromat, no dry cleaner. I had to drive sixty miles to find a laundromat. Every Wednesday was “fatigues” down on my hands and knees washing and waxing the floors, eating meals in the local Chinese restaurant. I was handed the police car keys and told by my Cpl. “don’t get lost”. Nine months and four days, but who was counting, I was transferred back to Peace River Hwy. Patrol. What a difference between my first Cpl and my second Cpl, i/c a two-man Hwy. Patrol. Now, I really felt I was part of something. Chasing down big muscle cars became my life. The fun came to an end. I was transferred off Hwy. Patrol to Peace River Town Detail.

I had met my future wife, Suzan, a nurse, and we were married in Peace River. Following my Drill Instructors instructions around eight years of service I applied to be a Drill Instructor. I was successful and in April of 1974 I arrived back at “Depot” with wife, first son and second on the way. I could write a book on the three years at “Depot”, we went through the surge of troops in preparation for the Montreal Olympics, then the doldrums of cut backs. I worked with great guys and we certainly had our laughs… all at the expense of the recruits.

After “Depot” it was back to “K” Div., Stony Plain Detachment, it was a terrible office very overcrowded. But the work was great. I got involved with ERT, also instructed the Division’s Tactical Troop, did tear gas training and was the local range officer. Busy times, lots of funny stories and lots of sad events. After three years I was transferred to “K” Division HQs as the ERT Coordinator. Which entailed doing a lot of jobs that were not in anyone’s job descriptions…. so I ended up with them. I was also promoted to Sgt. My boss during one of my annual reviews recommended that I should enter the Officer Candidate Program. This was to change my career path.

Prior to leaving “K” Div HQs in 1981 the Force formed a Counter Terrorist Team for the first Economic Summit held in Canada the Hostage Assault Rescue Team (HARP) to be trained by the British SAS at CFB Petawawa. I was Sierra One, the Sniper Team Leader. Three months of tough training and many laughs. As I entered the Officer Candidate program, I was told I needed more command experience. I was transferred to Vermilion as detachment commander. In 1984 Pope John Paul II was coming to Canada and his visit was to be followed by a visit by Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip. After some training I was selected to be part of the security teams for both visits and travel, in the Pope’s case across Canada, and the Queens visit to New Brunswick, Ontario and Manitoba. Now that was an adventure!

After returning to Vermilion, I received a call from Officer Staffing asking me if I would serve anywhere in Canada? Of course, I said yes, having been unofficially told I would be selected to be commissioned as Inspector (O.1330) to the about-to-be-formed Special Emergency Response Team (SERT) in 1986. Canada’s first full-time Counter Terrorist Team. The sad part of my posting at Vermilion was I lost two members in one year. One died from a massive heart attack after a fight while arresting a prisoner and the second died when he was electrocuted at the scene of an MVA. I spent three years with SERT as the Team One Commander. It was quite an adventure, starting from almost zero and given a bag of money to get the job done.

I was then transferred to Surrey Detachment “E” Div. What a difference from small town Alberta policing to large scale municipal policing. Five years later, after many adventures at Surrey, it was time for another move to Prince George as Detachment Commander, promoted to Superintendent. Prince George was often referred to as “Surrey with snow”. While at Prince George, I was called by the CO to assist in a police operation involving natives taking over some land at Gustafsen Lake, looking after the tactical side. At the time this was one of the biggest operations conducted in “E” Division. This adventure also involved the military. ERT were brought in from across the country. At the end of the day after many ups and downs the operation, called Operation Iron Horse, ended quietly with many arrests. I was later called to assist with VIP security at the APEC 97 being held in Vancouver. Another adventure. I was assigned security of President Suharto of Indonesia. His security people were very difficult to deal with. But my team kept him safe and he left Canada in one piece.

My final transfer was from Prince George to Coquitlam, in the LMD of BC as detachment commander. I continued as an Incident Commander. We raided the Hells Angels Club House. Not many coppers can say they had been inside this one. The Force established the National Incident Commanders Program, I was one of two selected from BC.

I attended the annual Memorial Parade held at “Depot” for many years as a troop commander. As I neared retirement, I was asked to be the Parade Commander in 2004. What a thrill, my last time on Sleigh Square. At the same time, I was working with a small group to have a memorial built at “E” Division HQs for our fallen members. The work was completed and it was unveiled in October 2004. Again I was asked to be the Parade Commander. The day of the unveiling, I chose that as my last day of work. What a way to go out, the Commissioner present, hundreds of members, including my two sons, in Review Order on parade.

One of the great things about the Force are the different things you can become involved in. I had my fair share of adventures, starting off at a two-man detachment to becoming a detachment commander as an NCO, twice as an officer, ERT, SERT, VIP duties, Incident Commander, and Parade Commander, for four change of command parades, signing of the twenty-year contract and the parading the new division ensign. It was time to hang up the spurs.

Sadly, my wife Suzan, who was always my sounding board for 53 years, passed away in 2021. I miss her. She got to see our two sons, as of this writing, achieve the rank of Superintendent.

Divisions Served: Depot, K, Depot, HQs, and E

Medals and Honours: Canada 125 Medal; Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal; RCMP Long Service Medal (LSM); LSM Gold Bar; Alberta Service Medal; C.O.’s Commendation

Pillar Location: 6 - VI

Regimental Number: #24394

Training Division: Depot

Troop Number and Year: TR. K 1965/66

Home Town: Abbotsford, B.C.

Engagement Date: Dec 02, 1965

Pillar Location: 6 - VI

Regimental Number: #24394

Troop Number and Year: TR. K 1965/66