RCMP officers in Quebec. Image via WIkimedia commons. CC License
RCMP members seen as “a breed apart,” but officers stress they are people too
In the third installment of our series on the men and women serving as RCMP in the Wood Buffalo detachment, we sat down with Staff Sergeant Sabrina Clayton to talk about the human side of being a police officer.
FORT McMURRAY, AB. — It is often said that first responders, including RCMP members, are a breed apart. They are unique individuals who are compelled to run towards danger and provide help when others would seek safety, but those who wear the uniform say it is just as important for the public to remember they are human too.
Staff Sergeant Sabrina Clayton says policing is as much a calling as it is a career, a commitment that demands officers endure difficult situations and return to work day after day. “The members who comprise our police force are uniquely wired people who run towards the emergency to render assistance and help whenever they are called to do so,” said Clayton. “They also have an ability to endure some of the worst human behaviour, suffer ridicule and scorn, be punched and kicked, and then move to the next call as though nothing ever happened.”
Harvard Media spoke with an officer who retired decades ago and now resides in a long-term care facility in Edmonton. He told us about one of the most difficult days in his career when he attended a call where two brothers, one only ten years old, had died by suicide. The now retired officer said he had to attend that devastating scene and, once the matter was handed off, immediately respond to a minor fender-bender between two quarrelling motorists. He explained that the ability to move from one call to another is essential in the RCMP, but the emotional toll never truly disappears.
RCMP members are also deeply invested in the communities they serve, Clayton says, and that makes their roles special. “We are in fact people, with feelings and families,” she said. “You may see us in the grocery store, at a soccer game with our children, or walking our dogs. We are part of the community we serve, in every posting. We become part of every place we are called to.” She added that many officers build lasting ties to their postings, with some staying in their first community for decades, investing in local life as taxpayers and volunteers.
The public nature of the uniform means members are rarely truly off duty. Clayton says officers are often approached with questions or comments while trying to eat lunch or take a break, and the rise of smartphones and social media has made their work even more visible. “Imagine being the spouse, parent or child of one of our members watching a situation unfold live involving their loved one,” she said. “The human element of every police officer is sometimes forgotten.” Public posts and recordings can also inadvertently expose police tactics or identify victims, adding more complexity to the job.
While the demands can be heavy, Clayton says RCMP officers remain committed to keeping people safe and maintaining trust with the public. “They are skilled, highly trained police officers capable of responding and managing any situation they face, swearing an oath to go anywhere from coast to coast to coast, and for a lucky few, find themselves chosen to come to Fort McMurray and call it home,” she said. “To the public, no matter what you do or say to our members, we will always be there. It is our greatest honour to serve this community and its citizens, but remember, we are people too.”
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