No Easy Ride by Ian Parsons

Author:Ian Parsons
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Law Enforcement
ISBN: 978-1-927527-17-7
Publisher: Heritage House
Published: 2013-05-14T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 8

FLAILING AT WINDMILLS

UPON ARRIVAL AT the training division, I was reassured to see that the sadistic and torturous methodology of the old-time instructors had fallen out of favour. Radical changes were taking place in the training curriculum and in the Force itself. The hours once devoted to equitation were now freed up for more relevant and contemporary topics. More time was allotted to academic subjects such as criminal law, federal statutes and practical training. The introduction of female recruits loomed as an additional engine of change. Training for new instructors included teaching through the establishment of learning objectives, giving the program much-needed structure. The study of human relations was in its infancy, but Corporal Dal Langenberger, the NCO in charge, was attempting to re-mould the former “cavalry curriculum” of PT, foot drill, riding and harassment, which aimed to “break” the candidates. Another welcome addition was the presence of French-language counsellors to assist unilingual francophone recruits.

In spite of the changes, high expectations prevailed. The Depot training experience was still stressful for recruits. We were starkly reminded of this when a young man took his own life. The timing of the incident was especially disturbing, as his troop had just completed their entire program and celebrated their ceremonial pass-out ceremony. The following day, as troop members prepared to embark to their respective postings, they returned from the midday meal to find their comrade lying dead in their dormitory with a self-inflicted gunshot wound, his issue service revolver at his side. His family, who had been on hand to share the elation of his graduation, had not yet departed and had to be notified. He left no note to explain his state of mind at the time. It remained a total mystery why he had killed himself at the culmination of his lifelong dream. The tragedy put a pall upon the training division for some time.

As the saying goes, you don’t have much opportunity to contemplate your options when you are up to your ass in alligators. That is the fundamental plight of every law-enforcement officer. He or she is constantly dealing with the ugly underbelly of humanity. It is impossible not to be cynical when witnessing the depravity of mankind on an almost daily basis. Working at the training division was like finding an oasis in the morass of human misery. I benefitted from ordinary working hours with weekends off, and the academic environment gave me the opportunity to question, read, debate and analyze. There were opportunities to discuss hypothetical scenarios and dissect real-life situations that went wrong. It was a priceless opportunity at a most critical period in my service.

A SERGEANT MAJOR NEVER FORGETS

Music has always been part of my life. During basic training I became involved with the recruit bugle band. There was little else about me that would warrant the attention of the sergeant major, the man who ruled Depot. Sergeant Major MacRae owned the drill square and struck terror and awe in the hearts of all creatures daring to encroach on his sacred ground.

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