Francis Frank Boyle

Divisions Served: “Depot,” “E”

Medals & Honours: Long Service Medal

Pillar Location: Pillar VI, Row 2, Column A

Story: 

In May of 1969 I was sworn into the Force in Calgary and transferred to Depot Division and became a member of #4 Troop.   Being the oldest of 12 kids I was used to the bustle, clamor and noise level that happens in a large household.  When I was 18 I had taken two younger brothers on a winter fishing trip into the mountains past Canmore and heading home I had a flat tire in my old Ford.  The spare tire when I checked was also flat.  I got my younger brothers all settled in and covered with blankets in the car and left them high up on the Kananaskis road  and I began rolling my spare tire down off of the road towards Canmore telling the boys not to worry and that it may take a while but I would be back for them with a new tire.  After a while of rolling the tire a car came along and picked me up.  After explaining my predicament about having to leave my brothers in the car, this fellow drove me down to Canmore, got my tire fixed and then drove me back up.  He helped me change the tire and got me on my way.  His name was Doucet and I found out that he was married to one of my high school teachers and that he was a Member of the RCMP.  Long story short his tales of life in the Force while we travelled were sufficient to garner my interest and a short while later I was sworn in as a new Member and on my way to Depot in my old 54 Ford. 

After graduation I was posted to Ashcroft Detachment where I met the love of my life.  Cheryl  and I were married in November 1971.  We have 3 wonderful kids and now have 7 grandkids too.  After two years in Ashcroft we were transferred to Kamloops for several years; first on General Duty and then onto G.I.S.  I was also on the ERT squad.  I was then moved back to Depot where I instructed Operational Training and Law.   Our family really enjoyed the Depot experience.

Following Depot we were  transferred to Atlin Detachment which at that time was a one man post.  With Cheryl as my second “man” we enjoyed our northern  posting.  It was a wonderful post for us and our family.  The kids really enjoyed it to the fullest and have many fond memories of being out on a friends trapline, riding snowmobiles, panning the creeks for gold, hunting, fishing and life in the North.  Obviously Cheryl did tons of work up there because when we left, the Force replaced us with three men – one for me and two for Cheryl. 

One of my most interesting files while stationed there was a really large drug and weapons seizure in which I enlisted the help of my whole family.  My main drug supplier to the town lived at the end of the Warm Bay Road and was very surveillance conscious.  I stationed my wife and kids along his route home and I took up a position in the bush adjacent to his cabin.  I gave them each a portrable radio Cheryl was in the post office and saw him pick up his parcel which we knew was full of drugs thanks to some assistance from the Whitehorse Drug Squad.  She let me know that he had picked up the package and was on his way.  Each of our kids also had radios and would advise that:  ”He just went past the school Dad” and the next would say that he just passed my location Dad until I saw him drive into his yard, take the package inside and open it up and begin to repackage it into smaller packages which is when I entered his place and made my arrest and seized the drugs and also a loaded handgun from the kitchen area.  Not too bad for a “One Man Post”.  Our drug buddy I am sure never knew about the surveillance by my wife and three kids.  We were transferred back to Kamloops where I worked in plain clothes on the G.I.S. Squad.  I served for 25 years and retired as the Sergeant in charge of the Serious Crime Section in Prince George.

While in Atlin we hosted a Regimental  Ball and took this photo of the occasion with some of  our guests.  Photo  taken before the Ball on the shore of Atlin Lake in front  of the M.V TARAHNE.

It was quite the talk of the town.  We had to reserve every available hotel  room a year in advance.  Supplies were bought on our credit cards.  We rented  china, cutlery and table cloths and booked a great live band from Whitehorse .  Cheryl  and her  group of local ladies planned and cooked our gourmet dinner.  One feature was smoked artic greyling which I spent many hours catching with our kids and my friend Glen Mackenzie.  The evening all came together, even after a power failure and was served by local teenagers and our daughter who were all dressed in gold  rush era  costumes.

It was quite an undertaking that would not have been possible without the efforts of my wife Cheryl.