Richard J. Henderson

Divisions Served: “K”

Medals & Honours: Long Service Medal, 125th Anniversary Confederation of Canada Medal, Alberta Policing Medal, Serving Brother St. John, Fire Service Exemplary Service, Alberta Emergency Services, Sovereign Medal for Volunteers

Pillar Location: Pillar IX, Row 12, Column A

Story: 

The first time I saw a member in Red Serge was at a Freedom Festival event in Windsor Ontario when I was nine years old. I think the impression that made stayed with me until I finally applied for the Force when I was twenty while attending college where I was studying Business Administration. My first posting on graduation in February 1976 was High Prairie in northern Alberta…quite a change for someone from southern Ontario…but it was a great place to learn as it was a high crime, fast-paced detachment. After 4 1/2 years I was able to put my business education to use with a transfer to Calgary Commercial Crime, but after three years there I realized I missed uniform policing. From there my career took me to Cochrane, Taber, and Whitecourt Detachments before being promoted to Cpl. in High Prairie, back where it began. From there I went to Assumption Detachment then “K” Division Criminal Operations where I managed a number of programs. The highlight there was coordinating the Division response to the Y2K threat. In the fall of 2000 with 25 years of service I retired and joined Alberta Disaster Services where I put my Emergency Management Skills to use working with 60+ municipalities in Central Alberta. In 2002 I joined Red Deer County as Director of Protective Services and Emergency Management, becoming Assistant CAO in 2007 until retirement in 2019. Each and every position I held was a fantastic experience I will never forget, and helped prepare me for my life after retirement from