Human nature can be a tough thing to comprehend at the best of times, but Joel Glen remembers when he thought policing would help him understand at least a little better why some people do the things they do.
He named domestic assaults as a prime example 乌鸦传媒� surely being a officer would answer questions around such often-brutal incidents of violence?
But even after more than two decades of investigating those and other files, Glen said that simply hasn乌鸦传媒檛 been the case.
乌鸦传媒淚 thought being a cop, I乌鸦传媒檇 get to understand human nature better, but this job乌鸦传媒檚 made it way worse,乌鸦传媒� he said last week, during an interview at the White Rock detachment.
乌鸦传媒淓ven now, there乌鸦传媒檚 still things that happen where you say乌鸦传媒� 乌鸦传媒業 can乌鸦传媒檛 believe you just did that. How can you do that to somebody you love?乌鸦传媒櫸谘淮綕
The disconnect never swayed his passion for the job.
Glen, who grew up in Vernon, has been with the RCMP for 21 years. He ended nearly four years as sergeant at White Rock乌鸦传媒檚 detachment last week, after accepting an offer to take a post in Kelowna, effective June 11.
At 51, Glen says this next chapter of his career will take him away from what乌鸦传媒檚 been a great place to work 乌鸦传媒� but it乌鸦传媒檒l also take him right back to where he wants to be.
乌鸦传媒淚 really am looking forward to it,乌鸦传媒� the affable officer said of the general-duty position that he accepted in January.
乌鸦传媒淚 think, in my heart, I乌鸦传媒檓 more of a street cop as opposed to an administrator. It乌鸦传媒檒l be fun.乌鸦传媒�
The sergeant marked his last day at the seaside city乌鸦传媒檚 detachment on May 24.
In an interview two days prior, Glen 乌鸦传媒� who has lived on the Semiahmoo Peninsula with his wife and three children for 24 years 乌鸦传媒� described a diverse career that乌鸦传媒檚 included far more than domestic-assault investigations. It乌鸦传媒檚 taken him from municipal-detachment posts, to stints with a pair of the Mounties乌鸦传媒� integrated teams, including targeting auto crime.
He arrived in White Rock after four years as a unit commander with the Integrated Sexual Predator Observation Team, a unit that was created in 2005 to monitor sexual predators who have been recently released from custody, to ensure they comply with probation orders and bail conditions.
Regardless of where he was posted or what point of his career he was at, Glen said there乌鸦传媒檚 been no shortage of interesting files and incidents.
In Langley, he had a butcher knife thrown at him by a suspect he乌鸦传媒檇 tracked to a stairwell while investigating a domestic incident. He received a medal of bravery for his response to that 2009 incident.
He broke his hand 乌鸦传媒� to a degree that required surgery 乌鸦传媒� in a fight that ensued with a suspect during a stolen-car investigation.
And, he had a stinging encounter with a barbed-wire fence while pursuing a suspect in Walnut Grove.
Not to mention sundry other 乌鸦传媒渂umps and bruises.乌鸦传媒�
For those with any doubt, the City of White Rock, said Glen, is 乌鸦传媒渄efinitely not immune to big-city problems.乌鸦传媒�
He named drive-by shootings and sex assaults as among files that have been investigated over the past four years as evidence of the claim. He乌鸦传媒檚 also warned residents about tax and , and logged reports of shots-fired.
And of course, the massive May 2016 fire in Five Corners 乌鸦传媒� which remains under , as the quest to identify and locate the arsonist who set the blaze continues.
There乌鸦传媒檚 also cases that warm the heart, such as Glen乌鸦传媒檚 first call-out after arriving in White Rock: to assist in the rescue of a beached seal pup, after the mammal was found stranded near the white rock.
Out of everything, Glen said the toughest part of policing for him, has been when he乌鸦传媒檚 had to tell parents their child has died.
But he乌鸦传媒檚 never doubted his career choice.
乌鸦传媒淚乌鸦传媒檝e wanted to be a cop since I was a little kid. It乌鸦传媒檚 all I ever wanted to do.乌鸦传媒�
Glen乌鸦传媒檚 seat at the White Rock detachment has been filled by Sgt. Rob Dixon, from the Surrey detachment乌鸦传媒檚 major crimes unit. Dixon was among officers cited for heroism and outstanding service in 2016.
