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 of these old newspaper clippings for the interest of Veterans and their families. This week’s webpage includes notable stories from late 1962 and early 1963 which RCMP members were involved in.

Three RCMP Members Honoured With Awards

Photograph of Reeve R.J. Harvey presents a 20-year medal to Staff Sgt. W.R. Morrison, NCO ic charge of the Cloverdale detachment of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
Also receiving a long service and good conduct medal was Sgt. Edwart Kurtz, New Westminster, Sgt. John Brucker of the Pattullo Bridge detachment received a speical citation.
At left is Supt. F.B. Woods-Johnson, officer commanding New Westminster subdivision.

A ten-man RCMP guard of honour in dress uniforms added an impressive note to ceremonies at the Museum Building on the Cloverdale Fairgrounds on Wednesday, October 19^th, when three of their comrades were presented with medals and awards.  Surrey Reeve Roland Harvey presented the Royal Canadian Mounted Police long service and good conduct medal to Staff-Sgt. W.R. Morrison in charge of Cloverdale Detachment and to Sgt. Edward Krutz of New Westminster sub-division identification branch.

Sgt. John Brucker, Pattullo Bridge Detachment was presented with a scroll from the St. John’s Ambulance Association in recognition of his ability as a first aid instructor.

Present at the ceremony were RCMP personnel and their wives, Reeve and Mrs. Harvey, Mr. and Mrs. Ken Thompson, Mr. and Mrs. Gault Wilson, Magistrate Hunter, Magistrate and Mrs. Keenlyside, Supt. F.B. Woods-Johnson and Mrs. Woods-Johnson.

Superintendent F.B. Woods-Johnson, officer commanding New Westminster Sub-division gave a short biography of each member singled out for the awards.

Sgt. Brucker is a 25-year veteran, and received the long service medal five years ago.  Besides his work in first aid, he is known for his interest and time he has devoted to developing hockey and basket ball teams among the juniors in all communities in which he lived.

Scroll was presented by Reeve on behalf of the St. John’s Ambulance Assn.

Sgt. Brucker is a musician of note and plays the sousaphone in the Vancouver Shrine bank.

Staff Sgt. Morrison took over charge of the Cloverdale detachment at the end of July.  He came here from Maillardville, where he had been for the previous six years.

Staff Sgt. Morrison was with the Provincial Police for eight years before that force was absorbed into the RCMP.  He was skipper of the Provincial Police launch working out of Campbell River, and later had shore duty at Campbell River and Qualicum Beach.  With the RCMP he was stationed at Ladysmith before transferred to Maillardville, in charge fo the detachment there.

S/Sgt. And Mrs. Morrison have taken up residence in Cloverdale.  They have two daughters, Patricia a student at UBC and Joan, in Cloverdale Elementary School.

 4 Policemen Hurt In Gang Attack By Young Hoodlums

Four policemen were injured at the weekend when attacked by gangs of hoodlums.

In Whalley, RCMP Constable A.J. Erickson and another officer were attacked and beaten by four youths while they were arresting a motorist on an impaired driving charge after an accident.

Constable Erickson was held from behind and kicked around the legs.  He was treated at hospital and released.  The other officer, whose name was not given, was bruised on arms and face.

The driver of the tow truck, called to the accident, radioed an alarm to police headquarters.  A squad sent to the scene ended the skirmish and arrested four men.

RCMP said the four probably will be charged  today with assaulting a police officer.

Robert Eric White, 20, driver of the car in the traffic case being investigated before the fight, was charged with impaired driving.

In Vancouver, Constable Ted Urchenko and Constable R.L. Kirkland broke up two fights while having lunch at Lions Drive-In Restaurant, 3080 West Broadway, then were attacked by 10 youths.

Constable Urchenko was knocked unconscious and was taken to hospital for treatment.

Kirkland said they  had arrested a drunken youth and were trying to put him in their car when other youths tried to pull the suspect away from them.

The policemen became separated and fought for five minutes before Urchenko was knocked out.  Kirkland called for reinforcements and an ambulance.  The youth fled to nearby cars and escaped.

The drive-in manager gave police license number of cars that left the lot.  Police later stopped a car at Thirty-fist and Blenheim.

Two youths in the car, Terry William Todman, 22, and Gary Ritchie Hughes, 24, were charged with breaking and entering and possession of stolen property.  Four transistor radios were found in the car.  Police allege they were stolen from Peel Electric, 2164 West Forty-first.

Philip Lloyd Haroldson 19, was charged with breach of recognizance.  Police say Magistrate Bernard Isman had ordered the youth to put up a $500 bond to keep the peace and told him to stay away from the the Lions Drive-In because he had been involved in a fight there.

DRIVER CHARGES MOUNTIE – Ticket For Tat

ALBERNI – What’s sauce for the goose is good for the gander, according to motorist Henning Skaarup here.

Skaarup today laid a charge of failing to halt at a stop sign against the RCMP constable who ticketed him Aug. 14 for the same offence at the same stop sign.

Skaarup laid the charge with RCMP against Constable V.R. Baugh of the Alberni detachment.

Last week, Skaarup pleaded guilty and paid a $20 fine for going through the stop signin front of Alberni city hall.

When he was caught by constable, Skaarup complained that he had seen police cars doing the same thing – slowing to a crawl to go through the sign.

Skaarup said the constable was very polite, and told him the RCMP were subject to traffic laws just like everyone else.

Then he went home to get the $20 for his fine.  When he returned he found the RCMP office closed, but nearby, he said, he saw a police care go through the same stop sign.  It turned out to be Constable Baugh at the wheel, he said.

An RCMP spokesman here said no date has been set for Constable Baugh to appear in police court.  He said the constable intends to plead not guilty.