Dennis J. A. Brown

Divisions Served: “E,” “K,” “HQ,” “Depot”

Medals & Honours: Long Service Medal, Queen’s Volunteer Medal

Pillar Location: Pillar VII, Row 10, Column A

Story: 

Assistant Commissioner (Retired)
Regular member Reg. #23031
Officer Regimental #1355

First impressions last. When I was 6 years old and living on a farm east of Prince Albert, Sask. , I had a brief encounter with two RCMP members. It was on a dark night in the middle of winter. They came to our family residence dressed in buffalo coats, fur hats, boots and breeches to tell us a couple of convicts had escaped from the penitentiary. Thinking they may have sought shelter in our out buildings, they wanted to have us stay inside while they searched. Fortunately, they were not found on our farm. I was very impressed with their strong character, protective manner and that memory of their visit is still with me today.

We moved to Prince Albert the following spring and over the years I often saw RCMP vehicles and members but had no further contact until my neighbor joined the Force and on a weekend pass home told me what a great organization the Force was. He encouraged me to join. I really wanted to expand my horizons and went in to apply. After about a year and one half of application process, I was accepted and I arrived in Depot Division Regina in April 1963. It was a rough adjustment from civilian life but along with my troop mates, we survived. I was posted to “K” Division, Alberta, upon graduation in 1964 and arrived to the bright lights of Calgary. It was learn as you go under the guidance of more senior members. As a single person, I was moved about the Sub/Division to High River, Okotoks, Banff and Brooks.

It was during my posting in Brooks that I married Karen Vinson from, Missoula, Montana. Little did she know then how many moves we would make in the years to come. Our first move was back to Calgary where I took on plain clothes duties in the Criminal Intelligence Unit. By 1973 we had 2 daughters and were on the move to HQ Ottawa where I worked in the National Criminal Intelligence unit. Ottawa was a place where I learned much more about the administration and workings of the Force, which would be very valuable to me as my career progressed. About the time we were getting very comfortable living and working in Ottawa, I was transferred back to “K” Division to Peace River General Investigation Section. It was a drastic change from the big city life to the remote country of northern Alberta.

After a couple of years I was transferred to Swan Hills Detachment as the Sgt. In charge. This detachment had the married quarters attached to the office with a passage door for office access in the living room. Swan Hills was an oil town and in the midst of a boom. There was only one paved access road and the rest, mud, which after a rain, was a horror to drive on. Oil field workers were paid very well and spent most of it in the local bar. Karen worked in the bank which was next to the bar and on pay day the line up to cash pay cheques went from the bank back to the bar. While waiting in line many of the customers would have a glass of beer passed to them from the bar which helped the long wait in line. Needless to say many nights after pay day were busy breaking up fights and putting drunk individuals in the cells.
After a few of years of the rough and tumble of an oil town I was transferred to “K” Div. HQ General Investigation Section. Where along with my usual duties I was often seconded to VIP visits such as the visit of Pope John Paul II to Alberta. In due course I was moved in charge of St. Albert Detachment and while there decided to study for promotion to the commissioned rank.

I was commissioned to Inspector and transferred to “K” Division HQ in charge of Criminal Intelligence units in Alberta. I was seconded to working on security for the 1988 Olympics in Calgary and worked closely with the Calgary City Police and other agencies. After many months of planning the Olympic Games commenced bringing people to Canada from all over the world. At the conclusion of the games I received a call moving me to “E” Division, Nanaimo Detachment on Vancouver Island. Leaving Alberta in the winter and arriving in Nanaimo with green grass and flowers was a bit of a shock. Nanaimo was a busy place with events such as the world famous Bathtub Races, Hell Angels bush party and many serious crime incidents. Two years into this posting I was promoted to Superintendent and continued working there until I was approached to consider qualifying for promotion to Chief Superintendent. I did and was promoted and transferred to Federal Policing in “E” Division Vancouver. This position certainly expanded my knowledge into this important area of enforcement. My HQ Ottawa experience was very helpful in understanding this new role.

Around 6 months into my Federal Policing posting, I received a call from the Commissioner promoting me to Assistant Commissioner Criminal Operations “E” Div. This was a highly demanding position in the largest Div. in the Force. My duties were many and very diverse, I thoroughly enjoyed the challenges. In 1996 I reached a point in my life where I had enough of policing and retired to pension. It opened many different doors for me and the freedom to choose what I wanted to do with the rest of my life.

To this day, I still miss the Force, the people who work to keep us safe each day and the adventure of moving to new challenges. If I had it to do all over again I would take the same path, enjoying a career like no other, providing service to the people of Canada and always being strong, confident and protective in my contact with them. As it was so many years ago now, when for the first time, I had a visit from two RCMP members in the performance of their duties, and who’s influence placed me on a career track that I really enjoyed.