The R.C.M.P. in Golden, BC
From 2000 Golden Memories
Submitted by a member of the RCMP
The first duty that the force performed in British Columbia was that of protecting Canadian Pacific Railway property and interests during the construction of the railway in 1884, 1885 and 1886. Under the command of Inspector Sam Steele, a small party of police kept in check the lawless elements of that time. Until June 1885, Steele’s headquarters, consisting of a force of eight men, was at Golden. In 1884 a man named Baird was murdered near Golden and was robbed of over $4000. Baird was murdered 29 miles from the line of the track, thus being outside the limit of police jurisdiction, which was 28 miles on each side of the track.
In the summer of 1885, railway construction proceeded westward, the Northwest Mounted Police headquarters in BC was moved to Beaver Creek, and Golden was left with a detachment of three men and one horse.
On New Year’s Eve, 1885, Constable William Ross died while on duty. He and Constable Ernest L. Percival set out to walk from Golden City to the Third Siding – a CPR installation West of the town. Constable Percival arrived at the Third Siding at 2:30 AM and reported that Constable Ross had not been able to walk any longer and was approximately five miles from the Third Siding. Constable Percival built a fire for Constable Ross prior to leaving him. The search party found Constable Ross badly frozen and barely alive. He died a short time later. Ross was originally buried in the Pioneer Cemetery in Golden however, his remains were moved to another location in Golden in 1954 when they were located by Constable White. Constable Ross’s grave marker was moved to Calgary Heritage Park in 1964. Constable Ross had engaged with the North West Mounted Police on April 12th 1882 in Toronto, Ontario.
Late in 1886, the Northwest Mounted Police were withdrawn from British Columbia.
In June, 1887, Superintendent Steele and D division at Fort MacLeod were again sent to the Kootenay District of BC to restore peace between the natives and settlers of that region. At the time, there were two divisions located at Fort Macleod D and H Divisions. Prior to leaving for the Golden area, men were hired, discharged, and transferred between the two divisions, so the names of all the men who came to the area is not known. The division arrived at Golden on June 28th and pitched camp on the Left Bank of the Kicking Horse River, the camp being connected to the town by a wooden bridge. Shortly after the arrival of the division at Golden, the steamer Duchess, navigating the Columbia Lakes, was hired by the police to ship supplies to the Kootenay, however, the boat capsized and very little was recovered. Steel engaged another small steamer belonging to JC Hayes, a merchant in Golden, at the usual rates of freights, Visa V, $1 per 100.
During the remainder of the division’s stay in Golden, Steele employed the men and teams in hauling stores to the landing, getting the new saddles put together and oiled, branding and numbering the remounts, and various other duties in preparation for the trip to the Kootenay.
On the morning of July 17th, the division headed for the Kootenay. Staff Sergeant’s Pane and Mercer and eight constables, most of whom were sick, were left behind in Golden. In the division’s 12 month stay in the Kootenay, Golden continued to be the shipping point for supplies to the police post in the Kootenay.
In 1888, a road was under construction between Golden and the post at Kootenay. It was felt that this road would greatly facilitate communications, as previously the river and the packed trail were the only means of travel and freighting.
In August 1888, the division left the district and returned to Fort MacLeod in the Northwest Territories.
It was not until 1919, in the reorganization following World War One, that the present E division, BC was created. its headquarters at Vancouver had a strength of 211 man for the division.
On August 15th 1950, the RCMP absorbed the BC provincial police and assumed the responsibility of the full policing of the province. One detachment consisting of one constable (Cst. D.B. “Doc” Poole) and one constable (Constable Alexander Craig) was opened at Golden. On that same date, the RCMP took over as detachment headquarters, and office, cellroom, and married living quarters in a building owned by the BC Provincial Government. This building, located at 612 10th Ave East was rented it was vacated on January 31st 1965. The location is beside the present-day, in 1988, Reddi Mart convenience store. The detachment neighbored the courthouse of the time, which has now become a vacant building itself.
A new crown owned RCMP type 17 detachment building was built by Burnham Construction Limited of Golden on the corner of Calgary and River streets in 1964. These new quarters were occupied on February 1st 1965.
The RCMP continued excavations at the Golden Pioneer Cemetery at some point during the early 1980s. Occupants of the cemetery were removed and relocated to the present Golden Cemetery. Presumably, the cemetery was excavated due to its position adjacent the Trans-canada Highway that was being upgraded near the cemetery at the time.
In 1975, the RCMP type 17 detachment building was sold to a local resident. It is presently situated at 503 11th Street and the attachment took temporary quarters in the downtown section across the bridge at 414 E Sixth Avenue. During the next year the new office transferred to this new building in the spring of 1977. Official opening for the new detachment took place in July 1977.
Once again the detachment was situated at 9O2 9th Street formerly corner of Calgary and River streets.
The Golden Highway Patrol Unit was regionalized in May 1995 to increase its membership from five to seven members. As well, authorization was given the same year to allow Golden HP members to patrol 45 kilometres into Calgary into the Alberta border. In 1996, the Highway Patrol experienced yet another gain in resources by the authorization of a Sergeant in charge, bringing the total number of members to 8. Today, Golden Highway Patrol members patrol Highway #1 from Castle Junction to Rogers Pass, highway 93 to Invermere, and Highway 95 to Golden.
In June 1998, the Field RCMP detachment was permanently closed. Supplies and some personnel were transferred to the Golden detachment. Golden RCMP now provides police service for the Field area. Previously, Field was a two person detachment until 1996. 1996, Field detachment was reduced to one member detachment, while coverage was provided by the Golden RCMP Windfields Constable was off duty.
Today the Royal Canadian Mounted Police are acting to meet the challenges and ever-present changes to better prepare the police for the evolving needs of our community. Community-based policing has become a way of doing business for the local detachment. The means used to accomplish this goal is through the RCMP community consulting group. This group consists of members of the public who are interested in obtaining the best possible policing service that addresses the concerns and issues of relevance to the people of Golden and area. The recent introduction of restorative justice programs such as the Golden Youth and Adult Assistance Programs have provided the community with alternatives to the court process that are proving themselves to be very effective deterrents to crime. Other community initiatives include the auxiliary constable program, which has been around for years and has provided volunteers in the community an opportunity to assist regular members with policing and law enforcement. The RCMP plan to continue the tradition of providing the best possible police service to the people of Golden, an area into the next millennium, as we meet new challenges and changes.