HESSLER, R.W. ((HESSLER, R.W. (Richard W.)))

Prior to engaging in the RCMP I was a member of the CAF Reserve with the Kings Own Calgary Regiment. I obtained the rank of Sgt. I was looking for a career in service to my country and decided on the RCMP. After being accepted, I went to Depot in July 1971 and graduated from 10 Troop January 31st, 1972.

My first posting was Fort St John. This was at the time a detachment of 20 members and was a great place to learn and complete my recruit field training. In those days, once recruit field training was completed, we were often sent to Prince George Provost, transporting prisoners by plane in and out of Prince Rupert Sub Division and the Yukon. After 4 months I was posted to General Duties in Quesnel. In the fall of 1974, I was asked to go to Burns Lake Highway Patrol and 4 months later was sent to Burnaby Traffic.

While in Burnaby I became a composite artist, which was a role I performed for more than 25 years. I also took an interest in traffic accident investigation and plan drawing. I had a background in drafting, so I was encouraged to pursue a career in Forensic Identification. I attended the Canadian Police College and became a forensic Identification Technician. I was then Posted to several Forensic Identification sections over the next several years. I did routine duties but found an interest in research and published several articles in the RCMP Gazette. I also researched the use of Cyanoacrylate, Rubber Stamp Identification and did a major project on Child Identification called Project Adam.

During my Ident career I worked on many high-profile files including 100 Homicides and was lucky enough to see all of them solved. At least 3 of them were serial killers, 2 mad trappers and every other homicide you could imagine. The most prominent file I worked on was that of a homicide case involving a murdered woman in a different jurisdiction. Fingerprints found at the scene were shared by the local Ident Team. About 2 years later I came across a set of fingerprints related to different file and recognized, from memory, those two-year-old fingerprints. This was a highlight in my career.

Throughout my service I became very involved in the communities I served, by participation in Scouts Canada and Coaching and organizing Sports for 30 Years.

On August 30th, 1975, whilst stationed at Quesnel, I married Marie Jeannette (Helen) Katzel in Vernon B.C. We have been blessed with four children, three sons: Lance, Paul, Evan; one daughter, Karen; and five grandchildren.

In 2003, with 33 years of service, we retired in Cranbrook B.C. After my retirement and being an accomplished artist, I continued with my art. I produced a cenotaph in Chestermere, Alberta, hand etched in granite and in 2017 produced a memorial that now sits on the beach in Dieppe, France, commemorating the Kings Own Calgary Regiment. It was truly an honour to have produced this monument of my old regiment.

RCMP Postings
Ft. St. John - General Duties
Prince George - Provost
Quesnel - General Duties
Burns Lake - Highway Patrol
Burnaby - Municipal Traffic
Coquitlam - Forensic Identification
Williams Lake - Forensic Identification
Prince Rupert NCO i/c Forensic Identification
Quesnel - NCO i/c Forensic Identification
Cranbrook - Forensic Identification
Cranbrook - Watch Commander
East Kootenay Sub Div Highway Patrol NCO i/c