The Sundre RCMP detachment’s newest member, who started his position earlier this summer, said a career in policing has appealed to him about as long as he can remember.
“It’s definitely something I was always interested in,” recently said Const. Andrew Bennett, adding he sought an opportunity to contribute to enhancing public safety.
Previously residing in the Vancouver area where he served as a reservist with the military for about 10 years, Bennett had more recently been living in Calgary, where he relocated roughly five years ago to work as a private sector investigator for insurance companies.
Prior experience digging deeper into a variety of claims ranging from bodily injuries to auto theft and property damage led Bennett to the conclusion that pursuing police work would be a natural transition.
“I felt I needed more meaning behind my work,” he added.
Graduating from the RCMP Academy, commonly known as Depot, on July 15 alongside a troop of about two dozen officers, Bennett officially began his new position in Sundre days later on July 18.
Following an orientation, his first few months involved field training with Const. Eric Morris, and Bennett has since started patrolling on his own, but with another on-duty member on shift as well.
The rookie officer seemed eager to absorb and gain as much information and experience as possible before considering any long-term commitments to pursue any specialized positions with the RCMP.
“There’s so much to learn just being a regular, general duty officer,” he said, expressing a desire to focus his energy on excelling at his current job before considering any other potential career paths within the RCMP.
“That’s my main effort, is to concentrate on being the best cop I can.”
As he builds up a more extensive repertoire of experience over the coming years, Bennett said he’ll see what interests him the most and go from there.
When asked whether he had any words of advice for others who might be pondering the possibility of a career in policing, he encourages potential recruits to prepare themselves by branching out in a variety of disciplines.
“There’s not one area to focus on that’ll prepare you,” he said.
From developing an understanding of the law to maintaining a level of physical conditioning and honing one’s marksmanship, there is “so much to know and learn,” he said.
“Just get as much experience in as many areas as possible.”
Having driven through Sundre a few times in the past, Bennett said he had not before spent much time in the community. But now that he lives in Sundre after buying a home in town, he said, “I’ve been loving it so far. The people are really nice.”
Plus, he said Sundre is ideally situated, with a perfect proximity to urban centres and easy access to the vast expanses of the West Country. Even right in town, he’s enjoyed exploring the local trails and nature paths with his fiancée and their new corgi.
“I love running and hiking.”
Living in Calgary in the lead-up to his first post with the RCMP in Sundre made moving that much easier, and the experience has to date been great, he said.
“Here in Sundre, there’s such a wide berth of experience, which I love,” he said.
From reports of breaking and entering to responding to livestock escaping enclosures and needing to be moved off a road, he said, “You never really know what’s going to happen next.”
