The RCMP's first OIC Detachment

C A N A D A

Dear Joe;

In reply to your note, yes, my dad passed away, as you state, on Feb. 20, 1987. He passed away at Port Moody, BC and he is buried in the family plot at Mountainview Cemetery in Vancouver, BC.

Dad joined the BC Provincial Police in 1931 and of course came to the RCMP in the takeover in 1950. At that time, he was a corporal. He had been born in Glasgow, Scotland on August 10th, 1901 and came to Canada with his family in 1914.

His father, also John Macdonald, joined the BCPP and retired as an Inspector. 

Dad was in charge of Burnaby Detachment at the time of his retirement and had originally held that position as a Staff Sergeant. When he was commissioned to Inspector, Burnaby became the first detachment to be commanded by an Officer.  At the time, Burnaby was Canada largest detachment.

Burnaby Detachment's first OIC was Reg. #0.479 (#16306) Inspector John Archibald Mcdonald. Two sons were also in the Force; Reg.#16817 Ian Douglas Macdonald and Reg.#20654 Rod Macdonald.

Yours truly,

Rod Macdonald

Reg.#20654

*Dear Rod,

Thanks very much for your interesting note which truly forms our history. As an aside, I arrived from 'Depot' to Burnaby Det. in May, 1965. This was shortly after your Dad had retired. Your Dad would have been followed by Reg. # 0.499 Insp. F.L. Jeeves who was my first OIC in Burnaby.

I believe Insp. Jeeves was followed by Insp. Gibbons and then possibly Insp. R. H. Simmonds?

Buffalo Joe Healy

Reg. # 23685