Morinville’s new top cop says he hopes to spend the rest of his career as a town resident. Staff Sgt. Tom Love became head of the Morinville RCMP detachment last week. He takes over from Mac Richards, who moved on to Port Alberni, B.C.
Morinville’s new top cop says he hopes to spend the rest of his career as a town resident.
Staff Sgt. Tom Love became head of the Morinville RCMP detachment last week. He takes over from Mac Richards, who moved on to Port Alberni, B.C., last September.
Love and his 25 officers are responsible for policing all of Sturgeon County.
Love, 48, says he decided to come to Morinville from Fort Vermillion to cap off his 21 years with the force. “It’s got everything that we’d need or want,” he said of the town, and he has relatives in the region.
A family man with a wife and two kids, Love says he’s a fan of the outdoors, and enjoys fishing and hiking in his off hours.
Love said being a cop has been a dream of his since he was a kid growing up in Saskatoon, Sask. “I just wanted to help.” He started off in Buffalo Narrows, Sask., before moving on to Green Lake, Regina, Pelican Narrows, North Battleford and Rosetown. He then headed to Coronation, Alta., for a bit before spending three years with the Fort Vermillion detachment.
“Being able to be part of each of the communities I’ve been in is a big thing I’m happy about,” Love said, and he hoped to get involved with Morinville as well.
The police can never resolve all the issues of a community, Love said, so he wanted to find out which ones mattered most to Morinville. “Do I think we have any more problems than any other community? No, I don’t.”
He’s only been in town for about a week, but Love said his initial chats with residents suggest that drugs, youths, and police visibility were important issues to the community. “Traffic concerns are a big concern.”
But the police can’t act on these problems unless people report crimes, he said. “We need those phone calls.” Police will respond to every call they receive, he emphasized, and one call could be the break they need to catch a chronic speeder or drug dealer.
Many town residents seemed very supportive of the RCMP, Love said, adding that he was looking forward to working with them. “I welcome the friendliness I’ve seen from everyone so far in the community.”
While you can retire from the RCMP after 20 years, Love said he’s sticking with the job because he enjoys it. “I get to deal with everyone. Yeah, there’s some bad people, but they don’t even come close to the good.” He planned to spend the rest of his career in Morinville.
Mayor Paul Krauskopf, who had yet to meet Love as of Monday, said Love was certainly welcome to Morinville. “We’re anxious to meet him and get on with the work that has to be done.”
County residents who see crimes or suspicious activity happening should call the Morinville detachment at 780-939-4550.
