Southeast District RCMP members were recognized for their service during an awards ceremony at the St. Eugene resort on Wednesday in Aq'am, a Ktunaxa Nation community north of Cranbrook.
The ceremony recognized six RCMP members — including locals S/Sgt, Barry Graham, Cst. Ian Ferrier, for their respective 25 years of service, as well as the recently retired Sgt. Chris Newell, for 30 years of service.
Cst. Ronald George and Sgt. Bradley Matchett were also presented with their 20-year Long Service Medals.
The Long Service Medals are awarded to members who have completed 20 years of service. Additional years of service are recognized by different clasps; 25 years is a bronze clasp, 30 years is a silver clasp, and 35 years is a gold clasp.
In an interview after the ceremony, S/Sgt. Graham — the Cranbrook detachment commander — reflected on his time policing in the Key City.
"I do feel so fortunate that the community has accepted me." he said. "I've never felt like a stranger, I've never felt like an outsider and you don't always get that when you're into a new community."
S/Sgt. Graham, originally from Newfoundland, began his RCMP career in Cranbrook, but was pulled away with brief postings in Kamloops and Salmo, before returning to head up the detachment in 2019.
S/Sgt. Graham said it was humbling to be recognized alongside fellow RCMP colleagues such as Sgt. Newell who was his field coach when he was am early-career member in Cranbrook.
"It makes you feel proud about the uniform," S/Sgt. Graham said. "Every day is not easy and these are great reminders of great people that we have doing great things every day and there's a lot of things still going on that don't see the formal ceremony that don't get the recognition, but it helps inspire more pride."
Creston's S/Sgt. Brandon Buliziuk was recognized with both a Certificate of Appreciation and a Commanding Officer's Commendation for two separate incidents.
S/Sgt. Brandon Buliziuk of Creston was recognized twice with a Commanding Officer's Certificate of Appreciation and Commanding Officer's Commendation for two separate incidents.
On Aug. 2, 2021, in Kamloops, S/Sgt. Buliziuk assisted with an unresponsive male who had experienced an overdose, using his medical training and expertise to help revive the man and save his life.
In another incident, S/Sgt. Buliziuk was able to rescue and recover an infant abducted by parents in the Kamloops area on April 13, 2021.
The infant, who needed specialized medical care, was abducted from Royal Inland Hospital. The suspects were in a vehicle in the Cache Creek area, and S/Sgt. Buliziuk was able to intercept after a brief flight attempt. The father had a weapon and resisted, but both parents were arrested and the infant recovered, as S/Sgt. Buliziuk provided treatment for hypothermia and hypoxia before paramedics arrived.
West Kootenay-based members Cst. Eva Harding and Cst. Jason Zilkie were awarded a Commanding Officer's Commendation for their actions in apprehending a man in crisis in Trail on Oct. 25, 2022.
The two officers responded to a complaint of a man in crisis near an ambulance station close to the Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital, but after a brief conversation, the man pulled out a gun and was able to fire off five shots. The two officers rushed him and were able to safely arrest him and take him into custody.
Cst. Matt Jenkins and Cst. Kyle Mylrea were also recognized for their actions responding to a call for a man in distress on the Kinnaird Bridge, which sits 100 metres above the Columbia River in Castlegar.
Cst. Jenkins, who was off duty at the time, saw the man and decided to engage and assist as on-duty members hadn't yet arrived. As police arrived, the male started climbing over protective barriers in preparation to jump, however, Cst. Jenkins and another member lunged towards the man and were able to grab his wrist through the railing.
The RCMP members pulled the man back over the railing, in spite of the risk of themselves being pulled over, thereby bringing the situation to a successful outcome.
Ret. Cst. Richard Drought was recognized with a Commanding Officer's Commendation for his actions in responding to a collision between two small aircraft in 100 Mile Ranch airport on May 16, 1999. Drought and emergency responders were able to successfully extract all occupants of both aircraft, which became locked together when collided while descending at the same time.
Commanding Officer's Commendations are awarded to all categories of 'E' Division employees and private citizens for acts of bravery or outstanding service which impacts at a provincial or regional level.
