Robert Gordon Teather

Divisions Served: “E”

Medals and Honours: Cross of Valour, Queen’s Jubilee, Commissioner’s Commendation

Pillar Location: Coming Soon

Story: 

Corporal Robert G. (Bob) Teather served with the RCMP for thirty years. His entire career was with “E” Division and started in 1968 in North Vancouver. During his time there, it became apparent that the RCMP needed a Dive Team. Underwater was a crime scene just the same as on land. He was a scuba diver since he was 14, and decided to further his education in the scuba field. It took him several years to persuade and convince Ottawa that there was a need for a Dive Team on the west coast. He was then transferred to Headquarters in Vancouver, promoted to Corporal and given the resources to form a Dive Team.

From a handful of divers using their own equipment and working on their days off, the Dive Team has grown to what it is today.

He was later transferred to Surrey Detachment and then back to Headquarters until his retirement in 1998.

In September of 1981 the Dive Team was called out in the middle of the night to rescue two fishermen trapped in an overturned fishing boat. Bob safely brought each man to the surface and for that rescue was awarded the Cross of Valour.

Shortly after that Bob was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes and had to give up scuba diving. He spent a good part of his time travelling across Canada and the USA lecturing and sharing his experiences. He wrote a book called “The Encyclopedia of Underwater Investigations.”

He also wrote three novels about his life in the RCMP and his experiences on night shift, day shift and in training.

In 2013 the Canadian Coast Guard named one of their new vessels after him.

Corporal Bob Teather passed away on November 15th 2004.