Greg Denis Gascon

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

Medals & Honours: Long Service Medal, Connaught Cup Winner (2010, 2012, 2014)

Pillar Location: Pillar VI, Row 15, Column F

Story: 

I began my service with the RCMP as an Auxiliary Constable in 1985, serving in “K” Div, working at both St. Paul and Leduc, Alberta Detachments.

While attending a Law enforcement program at Grant MacEwan Community College in Edmonton, I applied for and was accepted to an RCMP Summer Student position. I was subsequently posted to St Paul Detachment from May 5th to August 14th, 1986.

Immediately following this period as a Summer Student, I was sworn in as a regular member at St. Paul Detachment on August 15th, 1986.

I attended Depot Division training in Regina with Troop 9, starting August 1986, graduating in February 1987. Troop 9 was the only bilingual troop to go through training during those years.

My first posting was to ‘E’ Division at Penticton, BC, from February 1987 to June 1991, working periods of General Duty, Municipal traffic and Highway patrol. I was fortunate to be chosen to attend  the February, 1988 Winter Olympics, serving at the Nakiska area. In June of 1988 I received the Police Motorcycle Operator training, thereafter patrolling the South Okanagan with both Kawasaki and Harley Davidson police motorcycles. In an effort to further serve the community, I volunteered with the local Boy Scouts of Canada as well a youth group leader for our Catholic church. It was at this posting that I met Tammy Beierle and we married in August, 1989.

We transferred to Mackenzie, BC in June 1991, staying through to April 1994. I worked General Duty and for a period, as a spare for the Prince George Emergency Response Team. During fall hunting seasons, I was fortunate to perform joint patrols and enforcement with the local conservation officers, flying the beautiful, rugged areas of northern B.C. in an RCMP helicopter.

During this early 1990’s period, Mackenzie Detachment patrolled a vast area of northern B.C., including what was then Fort Ware and Ingenica Detachments. These sub offices were accessed by vehicle, via winter ice roads or fly in, mostly on chartered planes, often surplus WWII era Beachcraft bomber trainers (such as the one “parked” on the south lawns of Depot Divisions’s parade square).

I received training as an ‘Evidentiary Breath Test Technician” in October, 1992. Were it not for my wife answering the phone during many late night calls for service, there’s no doubt I’d have slept through many!

Our two boys, Quinn and Mitchell were both born in Mackenzie. We transferred to Ft. Nelson, B.C. in April, 1994 staying through to July 1997. I principally worked Highway Patrol, though assisted regularly with General Duty functions. Highway patrol duties were performed all along the Alaska Highway, stretching from Pink Mountain B.C. to Watson Lake YT as well as the Liard River Hwy to Liard River NWT. Ft Nelson’s Highway patrol area was vast, providing opportunity for multi-day patrols.

On numerous patrols my wife and kids were able to participate by camping at the Liard River Hot Springs. I’d work split shifts, enjoying the mid day hours with my family at this jewel of the north. This post again provided opportunity for northern helicopter patrols and enforcement with the conservation officers. What a way to see the province!

We transferred to Salmon Arm, B.C. in July 1997, staying through to September 2004. I worked General Duty, Municipal Traffic duties as well as with the Emergency Response Teams of both Kelowna and Kamloops Sub/Div. Besides working closely with various schools doing liaison work, I volunteered with the Air Cadet program, becoming a civilian instructor, leading their firearm program and assisting with outdoor survival programs. I participated in numerous fund raising events such as torch runs for the mentally challenged and head shaves for cancer. At this post, I received the Basic Firearms Instructor Course in June 1998, ERT Basic Assaulter in August/September 2000 and ERT Sniper/Observer training in April/May of 2003. Always having had an interest in firearms, these courses proved instrumental in making future postings available within the Force.

We transferred to Depot Division, Regina Saskatchewan in September 2004, to the Depot Firearms Training Unit, providing training to cadets and other enforcement agencies. I was promoted to Cpl. within the training unit December 15th of 2005. In July of 2008, I traveled to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan with 3 other members and participated in the Can-Am Police-Fire Games. My efforts rewarded me with a total of 5 team and individual medals for various shooting events.

I received other instructor level training while in this position, specifically Glock Instructor/Armourer training in February 2005, Police Defensive Tactics Instructor training in April 2007 and Police Driver/Advanced Driver Facilitator training in May 2008.

I was promoted to Sgt. July 19th, 2008, taking a position with Ottawa H.Q., though remained posted in Regina with the International/National Law Enforcement Training unit. These duties provided firearms training to many Canadian federal, provincial and municipal enforcement agencies.

I received Heckler & Koch Instructor/Armourer Training in February, 2009. This training was necessary and instrumental to providing firearms training for the Parks Canada Arming initiative, an important first step for this federal enforcement agency.

In September 2010, I took a six month secondment position with Ottawa H.Q. to the National Armourer Program, NCO i/c of the Regina office. The position was subsequently posted with national availability and having submitted my application, I received the permanent position. At this post, another opportunity presented itself to serve at the winter Olympics, this being in Vancouver in February of 2010. While at this post I updated previous Armourer training as well as expanded training with Sig Sauer and Remington Armourer training. I also participated in the RCMP Connaught Cup national competition for the years 2010 through to 2015, winning the competition for the years 2010, 2012 and 2014.

Throughout my various posting at Regina I was involved with community volunteer work. This included the local Air Cadet Program as a civilian instructor, a committee member with the RCMP Depot Division “Fallen Peace Officer Fund” and as a committee member with the “RCMP Annual Dinner and Auction”, which raised well in excess of $200,000 over a 6 six year period with funds going to local and provincial beneficiaries.

In 2016, an opportunity presented itself to take the position as NCO i/c of Gravelbourg Detachment, Saskatchewan, F Div. We accepted this posting in August, intending it to be a final post and having every intention of staying 3 years before retiring. However, while at the post, I was approached by Depot Division staffing with an offer of employment as a Public Service Employee, specifically to Depot Division to provide bilingual instructor services at the Firearms Training Unit. Considering this an ideal retirement job, it was an offer I didn’t refuse.

I thus took my retirement October 16th, 2017.

I began a “new” career with the RCMP as a Public Service Employee October 17th, 2017, serving as a full time firearms instructor for Depot Division. I continue in this position to present.