Barry Bradley’s Old Newspaper Clippings

Throughout his career in the Force (1960 – 1995), Veteran Barry Bradley developed a newspaper scrapebook containing notable news stories about the RCMP in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia.

Each week, we will post three or four of these old newspaper clippings for the interest of Veterans and their families. This week’s webpage includes the news coverage of several RCMP members who died in the line of duty and a biker who didn’t want to go when arrested.

OFFICER SLAIN CHASING FOUR PEN ESCAPEES

Photograph of Constable Robert Weston Amey (Reg.#22240) – (Source of photo – RCMP Gravesite database)

December 17, 1962 – WHITBOURNE, Nfld. – RCMP Constable R.W. Amey, 22, (Reg.# 22240) was shot and killed here today during an attempt to capture four escaped prisoners.

The men were nabbed shortly after the shooting by Constable D.C. Keith, also of the Whitbourne RCMP Detachment.

Police said they escaped from the penitentiary at St. John’s and created through a roadblock.

They were cornered outside a store at Whitbourne, 50 miles west of St. John’s by Consts. Amey and Keith.

Amey went to the police car to radio for help. When he returned the men had jumped Keith and taken his gun.

One of the men surrendered to Const. Keith, who apparently managed to round up the other three single-handed before help arrived.

FOUR B.C. DEATHS BLAMED ON STORM: RCMP OFFICER DROWNS AS PATROL CAR SKIDS OFF DOCK

– December 21, 1964 – The weekend snowstorm that battered coastal B.C. is blamed for four deaths.

Two were on Vancouver Island, one just off the island’s west coast, and the other in Vancouver.

The deaths brought to eight the number of people who have died as a result of the cold snap and snow that started in the middle of last week.

CAR LEAVES DOCK

Photograph of the funeral service for Constable Reginald Williams.  His photograph is to the right (Source of photo – RCMP Gravesite database).

RCMP Constable Reginald Williams, 21 (Reg. #23499), of Portage la Prairie, Man, was drowned in a patrol car Saturday night after it skidded off an icy wharf at Sooke.

Const. Williams had arrived at Sooke only two weeks ago following his basic training.

Police said the mishap occurred as he was making a routine check of a government wharf.

A fisherman saw the car plunge into 15 feet of water.

The car was pulled from the water and the body recovered. Investigations are under way.

Also killed Saturday was Gordon Wilson, 36 of Cumberland.

FELLOW MOUNITES HONOR DEAD MAN

Photograph of Constable Terry Tomfohr (Reg. #25214) of Burnaby RCMP Detachment.

– Jun 1967 – Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers paid their final respects today to a fellow officer killed early Saturday in a plunge oer a Burnaby cliff.

Constable Terry Eugene Tomfohr, 19, was chasing rowdies through heat bush in Harbor View Park, a partially developed area on the north edge of Capital Hill, where he fell over the 50-foot cliff.

Fellow officers and other mourners today filed past his casket in West Vancouver’s Hollyburn Funeral Chapel.

The body of the young police officer, escorted by his partner Constable Robert Yakubchuk, 24, will be sent by train to Lethbridge, Alta., where he will be given an RCMP funeral.

Funeral arrangements have not yet been completed.

An RCMP spokesman said officers paying final respects today were invited to sign a remembrance book that will be forwarded later to Tomfohr’s parents.

Tomfohr, his partner and two citizens were hunting for five youths shortly after midnight when the victim entered the bush area north of Cambridge near Howard.

A search that involved 50 to 60 policemen began when Tomfohr failed to return.

His body was found about 8 a.m. on an apron-like slope below the cliff.

An autopsy held later in New Westminster revealed Tomfohr died of aspiration of his stomach contents. He had also suffered a broken jaw and multiple cuts and bruises to his head, face, arms and ches.

An inquest was opened but was adjourned indefinitely.

Burnaby police said they have questioned the five youth who were being chased and are satisfied foul play is not involved.

BIKE RIDER WHO BATTLED POLICE JAILED

– 1964 – Burnaby – A motorcyclist who fought with arresting officers following a two-mile police chase has been jailed.

Bearded Gordon Cameron Rudyk, 22, 5868 Elson Burnaby was convicted of dangerous driving and two counts of assaulting police officers.

Magistrate Murray Hyde sentenced Rudyk to 30 days in Oakalla concurrent on all three charges. Rudyk chose the 30 days rather than pay the $100 fine on the traffic conviction.

Magistrate Hyde also recommended suspension of Rudyk’s driver’s license for three months.

Rudyk was arrested April 26 after Burnaby RCMP chased him at speeds up to 60 miles an hour along 14th and 15th Avenues.

Police caught up with him after his motorbike pinned under his bike.

Court was told Rudyk resisted arrest while in the police car, kicking Const. A.H.E. Van Caeseele in the head and face and biting his hand. He grabbed driver Const. Barry Bradley from behind and attempted to choke hi with his own necktie.