BEYAK, D.S. ((BEYAK, D.S. (Della Sonya))) ((BEYAK, D.S. (Della)))
The Gallery
The Nameplates
Pillar Location: Pillar: 10 - X, Row:24, Column:D
Troop Number and Year: Jun 10, 1988
The Bricks
Name: BEYAK, D.S. (Della)
Size: 8" X 8"
Donor: LEONA MELSTED
The Stories
Cst. Della Sonya Beyak Reg.#40153 was born in Winnipegosis, Manitoba on October 23, 1967, the daughter of Paul and Sophie Beyak. She was the youngest of 4 children. In her younger years, Della enjoyed a wide variety of interests and activities. She was involved in sports, figure skating, public speaking through the 4H club, and was a member of the Sopilka Ukrainian Dancers.
In high school, Della was a member of the student council, the yearbook editor and photographer, manager of the basketball team, president of the local 4H club, part of the “Reach for the Top” team (competition between schools testing trivia and academic knowledge). The team made it to the finals and was broadcast live on CBC TV. She loved participating in all sports, especially track and field. Along with all these activities and
responsibilities, she also worked part-time waitressing, and volunteered for numerous community events. In 1985, Della graduated from the Winnipegosis Collegiate with Honours, receiving numerous awards and bursaries for her outstanding commitments to sports, studies and
participation in school and community activities.
Della had great dreams, aspirations and goals, and her ultimate lifelong goal was to become an RCMP officer. More than anything she wanted to make a difference, change the world, and leave her mark. Della had initially applied to the RCMP right out of high school but was encouraged to complete a post-secondary degree first. So, she enrolled at the University of Manitoba, earning her Bachelor of Arts Degree in April 1988, graduating with a major in Criminology and a minor in French. To support herself through school, she worked as a security guard for the U of M
Campus Police and acquired many friendships, many of whom also applied to join the RCMP. In her second year, Della was tentatively accepted into the RCMP, but she reconsidered and instead decided to complete her university education.
During her years at university, she was a volunteer probation officer for Community and Youth Correctional Services (1986-1988) sharing her time and talents with youth and adults who came into conflict with the law. She was also in the Criminology Field Experience program and was placed to work with Victims Services for the Winnipeg Police Department. A plaque was dedicated in her honour recognizing her exceptional
work, sensitivity, and heartfelt concern for fellow human beings. Her U of M professor, who was so impressed with her persona, wrote “She possessed great potential and would have contributed greatly within the RCMP family had she not been taken away so early”.
In 1987, her last summer before being accepted to Depot, Della applied for a summer student job with the RCMP. She was accepted and became a Supernumerary Special Constable (Auxiliary) in Cranberry Portage, MB. Working as a special constable with all the powers and responsibilities of a police officer (with the exception of carrying guns) solidified her desire to pursue a career with the RCMP. A fellow officer recommending her candidacy wrote “She was everything the RCMP wanted; integrity, professionalism and compassion”.
The result of these opportunities led her to fulfill her dream of becoming an RCMP officer. On June 10, 1988, a few months after graduating university, she joined the RCMP Training Academy in Regina, SK. Here, Della endured many challenges and triumphs, but was always positive and remained a hard worker. One of her troopmates said she amazed her in self-defence. “Della was so soft-spoken and a bit slight, but
wow could she fight! She had a great sense of humour. During parade marches, she would make the funniest little noises or quiet comments that would have me nearly snorting with laughter! Della often had the girls laughing and she got along with everyone!” Her instructor recalled that she was extremely diligent to her studies, and she willingly helped her troopmates who were struggling or fell behind in their workload.
A training officer noted she displayed a maturity beyond her age, had excellent understanding of human behaviour, cross cultural education, and victimology, and had good handling of conflict situations. On December 19, 1988, Troop 5 graduated from Depot.
Della was posted to Assiniboia Detachment (“F” Division) in Saskatchewan. She immediately thrust herself into the life of the community, giving lectures on law awareness at the local schools, attending court cases, the local church, and gaining friendship and trust with local community leaders and townspeople.
Della’s short-lived dream ended abruptly on Wednesday, March 15, 1989, when she was involved in a macabre series of events during which three people were killed. She was working on voluntary overtime when she was called to assist at the scene of a fatal motor vehicle accident in the middle of a snowstorm. She was attempting to pass a semi-trailer that was kicking up snow which further reduced her visibility. As she edged out her vehicle across the centre line to see if she could pass, she collided head on with the coroner who had just left a collision scene and an ambulance following behind rear-ended the coroner. Della and the coroner were killed.
Della was only 21 years old, when she became the 187th officer, and the first woman to be entered on the RCMP Honour Roll, as the first female officer in the history of the RCMP to die in the line of duty. The following is a quote from a fellow troopmate; “Della came into the RCMP by plan. She was certain it was what she wanted to do, that certainty gave her conviction. Della’s certainty is in her eyes, when you look at her service file photograph. . . she epitomized what an RCMP officer should be. I believe that same youthful certainty is what compelled her to make the decisions she did on March 15, 1989. Her colleagues needed her assistance and she endeavoured to do what was asked of her. It is as simple and as complicated as that”.
Cst. Della S. Beyak had a regimental funeral service and is buried in the Holy Ascension Ukrainian Catholic Church cemetery in her hometown of Winnipegosis, MB. The road leading to the church is named after her.
Her sparkling eyes and bright smile live on in the many lives she touched! Above all else, Della was an extremely proud member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
Divisions Served: F Div. SK
Medals and Honours: #118 RCMP Honour Roll
Pillar Location: X - 10
Regimental Number: #40153
Training Division: Depot
Troop Number and Year: TR. 5 1988/89
Home Town: Winnipegosis, MB
Engagement Date: Jun 10, 1988
Regimental Number: #40153
Troop Number and Year: Jun 10, 1988