Darin Orville Underhill

Divisions Served: “E”

Pillar Location: Pillar X, Row 9, Column F

Story: 

Darin Orville Underhill was born on June 8, 1971 in Sechelt, BC to Orville and Ingrid Underhill. Darin’s mother was a teacher and his father was a Corporal in the Sechelt Detachment. Darin was the fourth child with a sister Christina, 11, brother Brian, 8, and brother Eric, 4. Later that year Darin’s family moved to Merritt, BC where Orville was promoted to Sergeant. The family made one more move to Chilliwack together in 1974 where Orville and Ingrid would set roots. Darin saw his father promoted in Chilliwack to Staff-Sergeant where he worked as Operations NCO, Admin. NCO and acting OIC over his service there until retirement in 1990.
After Darin graduated from high school in Chilliwack in 1989, he continued to work for another year before moving to Vernon, BC to start the Business Administration Program at Okanagan College. Darin worked and went to school over the next year working toward one of his passions of being a Head Golf Professional. One fateful day in May of 1991 Darin went to look at a cabin for rent on Silver Star Mountain, half way up to the ski hill. Darin met the Rogers family who had 5 acres with a beautiful log home and two rental cabins, and a daughter the same age! Darin and Linda met when he was moving into the cabin. Darin knew that Linda was the love of his life and after 8 months proposed. Thankfully she said yes! Darin decided to switch post secondary programs and applied for the Hotel & Restaurant Management Program at Camosun College in Victoria where he was accepted in the fall of 1991. Linda was already there working on her Bachelor of Music and Education Degree at UVIC. Darin and Linda left the Island to get married on May 22, 1993 in Vernon where family and friends gathered to celebrate their big day.
In June of 1994, Darin and Linda made their first big move together to Smithers, BC, where Linda started her teaching career and Darin started as the manager of the Alpenhorn Pub and Bistro. It was an amazing place with the addition of their first fur baby, Casey, a beautiful dog that challenged them at times (chewing Darin’s cowboy boots), but mostly gave them great memories to last a lifetime. Two years later Darin was offered a job in Lumby, BC to run the new Blue Ox Pub. They decided to take the opportunity to get closer to their families and move to the Okanagan and build a brand new home. Darin decided to leave the Blue Ox Pub and began work at Harbercraft Boats in Lavington, BC, where he was quickly promoted to lead hand. Darin had always considered joining the Force and for years struggled with the decision to apply. He had seen the work his father had done, relationships he made and love for the job so Darin decided to apply. While Darin and Linda were living in Lumby they welcomed their first child, Robert Orville Underhill, into the family. Darin applied over the next few years, writing and passing the exam, but not receiving the letter that it was time. Darin finally did receive word in the fall of 2000 that he was being accepted, completed all the paperwork and pre-requisites and waited for the call. It felt like an eternity due to the anticipation, but in January of 2001 Darin got the call and had to leave for Depot in 4 days. It was a whirlwind but they got everything ready and Darin packed up for his next adventure.
On January 15, 2001 Darin joined Troop 36 at Depot Division in Regina, Saskatchewan. It was a true adventure with such an amazing experience over the next 24 weeks with graduation on June 18, 2001. Darin, Linda, Robert and Casey were off to his first post of Invermere, BC where they had never been to before.
On June 22, 2001 Darin started his first shift with trainer, Constable Chris Wortman at the Columbia Valley Detachment. Darin quickly learned how fortunate he was to have such a great crew to start his RCMP career. He learned from some talented members and Public Servant staff and made some great friends that he keeps in touch with today. Darin started as general duty there but worked through the National Parks during the RCMP enforcement time, traffic services and Collision Analyst. Darin was able to gain valuable training and experiences in many areas of the RCMP team. While in Invermere, Darin and Linda welcomed their second child, Alexandra Marie Underhill, into the family. In 2007, they were on the move again and transferred to Vanderhoof, BC, where Darin took up a traffic services position.
Darin and Linda bought a beautiful home in town where they would make some more incredible memories with family and friends. The Vanderhoof Detachment was again full of great people, making the work so enjoyable, even through the tough and challenging calls for service. It wasn’t long and Linda was teaching steadily again after some time subbing. Darin and Linda welcomed their third child, Dayna Anne Underhill, into the family. It was a tough time when they had to say goodbye to their beautiful girl Casey, what an amazing dog. But after a short time the family welcomed their new fur baby, a black lab named Shadow. Darin was promoted to Corporal in General Duty in 2010 and was off to the Olympics to work as a Collision Analyst for the next 5 weeks. In 2011 Darin had updated his list of places he would like to work on HRMIS and received a call from staffing asking if he would be interested in Barriere, BC. Darin and Linda had never been there other than passing through the town. It was a beautiful little town in the north Thompson Valley and much closer to family in the Lower Mainland and Okanagan. So they decided to take the position and Darin started in November of 2011 as the Detachment Commander of the small Detachment. Linda began to substitute teach and traveled all over Kamloops, Clearwater and in the Barriere area. In 2012 Linda got a position in Clearwater teaching music, her true passion.
In 2015 she took a full time position in Barriere at the Elementary School and Darin transferred laterally to Kamloops with Drugs and Organized Crime Awareness Service, which became Strategic Prevention Services.
In March of 2018 Darin lost his father, friend and mentor, Staff Sergeant retired Howatt Orville Underhill (Reg#19253) to cancer. It was a difficult time for Darin and his entire family, leaving a hole but lasting impression in everyone’s life he touched.
Darin remained there until the fall of 2018 where he applied for and was transferred into the Integrated Forensic Identification Services section of Kamloops City Detachment, starting the IFIS apprenticeship program. Darin went to the Canadian Police College for 8 weeks in 2019, from January through March, to complete the Forensic Identification Course. Darin is still with IFIS in Kamloops, completing his apprenticeship training to become a Forensic Specialist with the RCMP. Darin’s amazing mother, two brothers and their families all stayed in the Chilliwack area.
Linda is still teaching in Barriere, loving her school, kids and co-workers. Robert has moved to the Lower Mainland for work and Alexandra and Dayna are doing amazing in school. Darin plans on finishing his career with IFIS in Kamloops and continue living in Barriere with his beautiful wife Linda until they can retire and travel the world together. The RCMP has been a huge part of their lives, traveling to some incredible places and making some life-long friends.