The new sergeant at the Alexis Creek RCMP detachment said he will be relying on the community to help him do his job.
“Being a policeman all over Canada I have always depended on the people living in the community,” said Sgt. Don Racette. “They are your best resource. They know who people are and how to get to certain areas the very quickest way. They are our life line as far as I’m concerned.”
Racette is Metis and was born in Belcarres, Sask, near Little Fort Qu’appelle and northeast of Regina.
After serving in the Canadian military for 17 years, and living all over the country, he became an RCMP officer 15 years ago.
“I always wanted to be an RCMP officer,” he said, noting at depot he was part of an Aboriginal troop in Saskatchewan. “Everyone in my troop had to sign a contract that after graduation we would be willing to work in Saskatchewan.”
He enjoys First Nations policing because it is part of his cultural heritage.
“I find every band is different than the other, and I find it very interesting going different places and learning the culture.”
For example, he added, in the Alexis Creek area there are four different First Nation communities.
“To me it will be very rewarding to learn about their cultures in every way,” Racette said.
Racette’s first day was Nov. 4.
“I’m still wet behind the ears,” he chuckled.
He and his wife are living in the housing provided for the RCMP at Alexis Creek and are looking forward to venturing into the outdoors on his days off.
They have a 24-year-old daughter who stayed in Saskatchewan, after Racette was transferred to High River, Alta in 2010.
As he looks to the future, he said he doesn’t have any plans for the detachment, other than keeping an open mind.
There are eight police members on staff, plus a full-time support staff, part-time support staff and a full-time victim services worker from a local First Nation community.
This is Racette’s first command position.
In the RCMP he’s worked in various fields, including general duties, plain clothes work in a drug section and he was in recruiting for a stint.
Prior to moving to Alexis Creek he was stationed in Calgary where he worked in the drug section for almost two years.
One of the perks of moving to B.C. is the fact he will be able to wear his B.C. Lions paraphernalia and not get ridiculed.
He’s been a Lions fan ever since he learned that Brent Racette was a player on the team in the early 1980s.
Racette replaces Del Byron who became Staff Sgt. at the Williams Lake detachment in February.