From Seaweed to Stubble
User Story
By Clif Chapman
Was this it?! I stood high on the bank of the North Saskatchewan River looking incredulously at the flat and seemingly featureless terrain that stretched as far as my eyes could see. I had just given up my railroad career and 8 years of seniority to come east and join the Edmonton Police Service. The mountains, forests and ocean were still fresh in my thoughts. Had I made a big mistake?
The uncertainty of that decision never returned. From day one, having met my new classmates and a mix of Edmontonians, I knew I was where I should be. From the introduction to my new life with the EPS grew a love for this city. I had been in a job where contact with people was minimal. Now I was in a job that was all about people – people in trouble, people reaching out, people who supported you, and people who needed you. And, I had joined a family, a brotherhood of men and women who really cared.
I worked the streets of Edmonton for 25 of my 29 year police career and was given the opportunity to try many areas of the Service. In the early days walking the beat alone with no radio or means of communication, I learned to be a real diplomat and get the job done. Riding a motorcycle with a buffalo coat in sub-zero weather was…well…memorable! Later in my career, I worked in the Tactical Unit and many other positions and was afforded the opportunity to take Personnel Administration at the U of A.
After 29 years, I reluctantly retired. One year later, an opportunity arose to return to “The Family” – this time as a civilian. I took it, and I still work with the EPS in a civilian capacity.
It’s been a long time since I stood on the bank of the North Saskatchewan and wondered. I have had a lot of people ask (after learning I grew up in Vancouver), “Why don’t you retire in Vancouver?” My answer? “This is my home – my family”. Thanks Edmonton.
