Tofield RCMP Sergeant Charles Brown hangs up his hat after 45 years of police work
Tofield RCMP Sergeant Charles Brown, 66, retired from the RCMP last week after 45 years serving several communities across the country including twice internationally.
Brown has been in Tofield since June of 2022 and his last day was April 6.
He said he felt a ‘mixed-bag of emotions’ leaving the RCMP after so many years.
“I’ve got a mixed bag of emotions (leaving the RCMP). It’s in your psyche, it’s in your brains, in your values, in your blood (and) in your genes, because you’ve done it so long,” said Brown, adding that he enjoyed his short time in the Tofield Community.
“Beaver County is a very good community. I really feel they are doing the best they can to support the police.”
Brown said he knew from childhood that he wanted a career in law enforcement stemming from an experience he had while driving with his father.
“(We saw a police officer walking), officers did a lot of walking around (back then). They were very visible. My dad pulled up in his vehicle and said ‘Do you want a ride back to the detachment?’” he said. “This man was in uniform and he was big. He was huge. And I’m awestruck.”
Brown said the encounter lasted only a few minutes, long enough to drive the officer back to his detachment and leave an impression in Brown’s mind that he wanted to be a police officer.
In 1978, Brown began his career at the Middleton Police department in N.S., working there for 22 years before serving overseas.
“I enjoyed my career overall and it allowed me to go overseas and serve a country that I never knew about called East Timor, above Australia, that was destroyed by militia,” he said, adding he was there for nine months and also spent time in Afghanistan in 2010.
Brown said a highlight of his career was time he spent in Northern Manitoba from 2014-2018 when he was able to not only provide RCMP service to the isolated community of Gillam, but also provide a Christian ministry to the community.
“It was good for my soul to see how people function in an isolated community where there were no churches. My wife (Faye) and I took on a ministry there while trying to (also) be a police officer,” he said. “I did dual roles in the ministry so I had to be there for the funerals for the sudden deaths as well as preach every Sunday to the people of Northern Manitoba. It sometimes got me in a little bit of trouble with my bosses.”
Brown shared a story of one of the community’s residents, a man named Anthony who was addicted to drugs. He said Anthony was a terrible drug addict who hated the police, including Brown. He said Anthony’s perspective began to change, however, after some of his own family members passed away.
“(Anthony’s) Aunt died and I was a minister at the time, so I showed up at the house not in uniform, and he (listened) to what I had to say, and the hymns and praises (I did) with the family members,” he said.
“And after that, he had two children who passed away (stillbirths) so I (helped) bury the two children and did their funeral services.”
Brown explained that Anthony began to see him, not only as law enforcement, but also as a fellow human being.
“He changed so much toward the police. He knew I was human and he didn’t see me just as a man in uniform, enforcing the law,” he said. “He and his wife came to me one day and asked if they could rededicate their marriage.”
Brown said last year, Anthony’s community paid for Brown and his wife to travel and celebrate their ‘Treaty Days’ with them. He said the celebration was very unique and they had a special request of him.
“They asked me to come in Red Surge,” he said. “It was very unique to be appreciated with an invitation and a big meal.”
Meanwhile, Brown said he and his wife now plan to travel to the East coast where he will decide between furthering his education, pursuing a Christian ministry or possibly politics.
“I want to be involved in the community, whatever community that is, (and) embrace it,” he said.
Brown added that Constable Cheryl Rafferty will be taking over as interim Sergeant until a permanent replacement is hired.
Jana Semeniuk
Staff Reporter
