Darrell Stuart Robertson

Divisions Served: “F,” “G,” “E,” “Depot,” Namibia

Medals & Honours: Long Service Medal, UN Peace Medal, Canada Peacekeeping Medal

Pillar Location: “B” Block

Story: 

My career began in 1978 as an Auxiliary Cst. with the RCMP in Duncan, B.C. In 1981 I was enlisted as a Regular member and posted to Depot, Regina, SK.  Following Depot, I was fortunate to have been posted to Kamsack, SK. It is a community wrapped in cultural diversity where I was able to develop my skills over the next 5 years with the indigenous culture, as well as the community which has a predominantly Russian and Ukrainian background.
The next move to “The Battlefords” afforded me the opportunity to work in the largest detachment in “F” Division. There I gained valuable experience working with a large indigenous population while on the Municipal, GIS and Rural units.
During 1989, while at The Battlefords, I was seconded with 99 other members as part of a United Nations Peacekeeping team for duties in the African country of S.W. Africa, now Namibia. It was the first time the RCMP had engaged in such duties. During my tenure there I was initially assigned the position of Administration Officer for the Ombalantu Station with 60 police officers from a variety of countries. Later, as a Patrol leader working with police officers from 12 different countries, my duties included implementing patrols to local communities neighboring the Angolan border, monitoring the outgoing South African police force and ensuring free and fair elections. Following what was then identified as the most successful UN mission to date, I returned home in April 1990.
Maple Creek, SK. a ranching community, was the next posting. It was a great pro-police community with great people and the local ranchers included RCMP members in ranching life. All three of my locations in “F” were historically significant to the Force and being part of it was extremely rewarding.
In 1995 I accepted a transfer to Rae-Edzo, a small “Dogrib” community in “G” Div. Transfer of personnel from the location allowed me the opportunity to be directly involved in the day-to-day management of the Det. I served for 18 months in an acting capacity both as the Operations NCO and the Sgt. Det. Commander. At this time the Tli Cho First Nations community was undergoing an economic boom due to the development of the Canadian diamond industry.
In 1998 I moved further north to the community of Inuvik. It was a busy policing location where I worked with the Inuvialuit and Gwich’in populations. This fostered learning about and allowed for participating in their cultures. I was afforded opportunities policing the north, Sachs Harbour, Paulatuk and Inuvik that will forever be in my memory.
In support of the fledgling diamond industry in the north, I became a member of a 3 person  “G” Div. Diamond Protection Service, based in Yellowknife. We subsequently moved there in the fall of 2001. Within a short time frame Canada became the 3rd largest producer of diamonds in the world by value. Our unit took a proactive and integrated approach in assisting with the overall fight against terrorism and organized crime, supporting national and global security and safety. Partnerships were forged with local, provincial, national and international governments and NGO’s. One responsibility was to facilitate the collection and management of criminal intelligence pertaining to the Canadian diamond industry. This involved travel and forging international partnerships. Working as part of the Diamond Protection Service was another highlight of my career. Following those duties I moved into the Criminal Analytical Section for a period of time before taking on the position of the Planning Analyst for “G” Divison, which provided the opportunity to become more knowledgeable regarding administration functions of the RCMP at a Division level.
On October 6, 2007 a terrible tragedy occurred in Hay River, NT and our RCMP family lost Cst. Christopher Worden who was shot and killed by a drug dealer. I was seconded to Hay River and took over the Det. Commander’s duties in his absence, while all members of the detachment were provided time off to grieve the loss of Chris. This was the most horrific of the many tragic events experienced during my policing career.
In July 2009 after approximately 14 years in “G” Div., I obtained a transfer to “E” Div. Oceanside Det. as the Operations NCO. The transfer afforded me the opportunity to return to uniform duties at the 37 member detachment in Parksville. I retired in 2013 after 32 years service. I have gone full circle back to Vancouver Island. I have been fortunate to have had a varied policing career. I have been successful in satisfying a broad range of goals and priorities, both personal and professional. I believe that I have made a difference, and although I have dealt with many negative incidents during my 32 years, I have been personally rewarded because of my experiences, the people I have served, and the friends I have met along the way.