Gordon James Keating

Divisions Served: “J,” “B,” “A,” “O,” “HQ,” Central Region, and Atlantic Region

Pillar Location: Pillar X, Row 11, Column B

Story: 

I joined the RCMP on October 9, 1973 in Stephenville, NL.  Like all good Newfoundlanders, I was a non-swimmer, and endured six months of absolute torture in order to get to graduation.  The deep end of the pool was hated in 1973 and continued to be the only thing I despised in my entire career.

I enjoyed 33 years of service which required 13 physical relocations.  I had the pleasure of working in “J” Div., “B” Div., HQ Ottawa, “A” Div., “O” Div., Central Region and Atlantic Region. 

I have never won a lottery but I was fortunate enough to survive being struck by lightning while investigating a murder/suicide in New Brunswick on August 1, 1976 at 7:20 pm. (It is a moment I will never forget and neither does my wife because we had recently gotten married and my insurance still named my mother as the beneficiary).

I enjoyed both operational and administrative duties and was fortunate enough to obtained promotions which provided a very diverse range of duties and the opportunity to work with many talented members throughout Canada.  I retired at the rank of Chief Superintendent (O.1736).

I married my high school sweetheart and we had one son who also pursued a career in policing.