Fifth and final rotation of RCMP’s mobilization team assisting
with coverage finishes up in Enfield
ELMSDALE: All one must do is look at the sign outside an Elmsdale business on Highway 2 to see the impact RCMP officers—even though they are from away—mean to the community and the connection they have made.
That sign—located in front of GNS Equipment Rentals—simply says “Huge thank you to the RCMP and Cpl. Brodeur, the Boom is back.” The Boom the sign refers to, is a crucial piece of their business and had been stolen off the business property. A few days of following investigative leads Cpl. Brigitte Brodeur, a federal policing officer from Montreal, it was found and returned.
Cpl. Brodeur is among the several officers from across Canada on the fifth and final mobilization team rotation providing coverage for the past month to East Hants RCMP and other detachments in N.S. The mobilization team has been helping with coverage in N.S. detachments since April’s mass shootings for members off work seeking wellness treatment.
On this sunny Tuesday Aug. 25, Cpl. Brodeur, who is here from C-Division in Montreal, and Const. James Theedom, currently based in Newmarket, Ont. went to check on how things were going since the Boom was returned.
Shelley Cole, who owns and operates the business with husband Geoff, said the police were extremely helpful and communicated once, sometimes even several times a day, with updates on their investigation into the theft.
“We are more than happy with the service we have received from Enfield RCMP in the retrieval of our boom,” said Cole. “As a small business owner, having it gone was impacting our business greatly.
“We were kept up to date every day with phone calls and emails, visits. It has led to extra patrols in the business area.”
She had no idea officers from away were here covering for members in Enfield until the theft of the boom.
“We live in the community so we’re happy to have the support of officers from away here covering our community,” said Cole. “It’s really a great thing.”
Cpl. Brodeur, who is posted at C-Division and does federal policing, had her first posting when she began as an RCMP officer in Chester.
“It meant a lot to me to come back to Nova Scotia and do what little old me as one person could,” said Cpl. Brodeur. “If I can bring a forward movement to help the members, I thought I should do that.
“It was a nice refreshing change and to get back to my roots in policing.”
Const. Theedom said he has enjoyed his time in East Hants, covering calls all the way from Enfield to Maitland and Noel.
“Everyone has been friendly with me,” he said. “Having seen what happened in April, from home in Ontario, I knew I wanted to come and help the detachment here.”
He spoke of what it meant to him to come and help a community, a detachment, and province that was mourning 22 lives lost in a tragic mass shooting.
“It was something I really wanted to do,” he said. “We had heard of the mobilization teams coming and so I had made my bosses aware I would like to go. I was able to make it happen.”
Both said their families back home understood them going away to do what they do best and help another province in a time of need
“Our families are used to sacrificing time, and I think they feel by us being here they’re also contributing to helping with the situation here,” said Cpl. Brodeur. “Obviously, we’re excited to go back to our families, but the connection is so strong here in the community I have felt like it was a second family right away.”
Cpl. Brodeur said she rediscovered the generosity that she knew Nova Scotians were known for during her time here.
“Having worked in Chester and Tantallon, I knew Nova Scotians were friendly and I was able to find that again,” he said. “People still wave at you, are friendly. I was incredibly happy to see that. It’s something that’s precious and particularly important to me.”
Const. Theedom, who works in federal policing/financial crimes, said he couldn’t go anywhere in East Hants or Indian Brook without residents chatting to him and being thankful he came.
“A lot of local businesses have been very supportive too,” he said. “It’s been ridiculously hard to buy meals and such here. I’ve had to say no to complete strangers.”
For Const. Theedom he will get a short break from being on the East Coast. He found out while here in Enfield that he is being transferred to Sheet Harbour RCMP. He will return in mid-September to begin work. He said himself, his wife, and two kids are looking forward to the move.
“Everyone is very friendly down there with policing, so I think my wife and two kids are really going to enjoy living down there,” he said.
Cpl. Brodeur said her highlight call had to be the boom being found, and the community connection police have in East Hants.
“That’s very rewarding,” said Cpl. Brodeur.
Const. Theedom had two more shifts left when he was interviewed.
“I was able to go to Noel and while there spent some time on the Minas Basin where I took some photos while the tide was out,” he said, adding the scenery was beautiful. “It was refreshing to come back and do some in-person policing.”
The two were asked what mark they hope to leave in East Hants given the nature of policing and the negativity surrounding the RCMP across Canada.
“We just hope that for both of us being here that it allowed the other members to breathe and get through this tragic situation, come back and resume their duties,” Const. Theedom. “I would hope they would do the same for me.”
