Office administrators are the backbone of our detachments

B.C., Midway, Daajing Giids

2023-04-12 14:10 PDT

Office administrators are vital to the day to day operation of RCMP detachments. Administrative assistants and Detachment Clerks are the backbone of the organization and ensure the officers in the communities we serve have the support necessary to be able to do their jobs. Especially in small, rural communities throughout BC, these employees run the show.

Office administrators are often the ones that people will see at the Front Counter or who they first talk to on the phone. They are the face of the detachment and they are the person that represents the values of the RCMP to the community on a daily basis, said Sgt. Greg Willcox, Willcocks Detachment Commander of Daajing Giids detachment.

In the remote community of Daajing Giids, Haida Gwaii, Beverly Yovanovich has been the detachment clerk for nearly 27 years. She was personally asked to take the job by the detachment commander at the time and has never looked back. The RCMP members have become her family, and she has made some lifelong friends as a result. Her youthful dream was to be a commercial pilot.

A stalwart in the community, Bev, a member of the Haida Nation, sees herself as a is pleased to assist the local RCMP in their efforts conduit on their reconciliation journey as part of her role, and strives to help the detachment to bridge the historically difficult relationship between the RCMP and Indigenous people.

Many people in our communities here are unsure of what my job entails, however can feel more comfortable will coming directly to me, and to my house, or calling my personal phone to report crimes or share information, said Beverly. Historically There has been a mistrust, or fear to report by some in the community, but we are working hard to change that. now.

In September of 2021, Beverly spearheaded the raising of a totem pole outside the Daajing Giids detachment. I’m dedicated to our reconciliation efforts and this initiative was 12 years in the making. This event will have a lasting impact on the community, its people and the RCMP.

Bev Yovanovich is one of those people. She has been the face of the Daajing Giids RCMP detachment for over 25 years and has been instrumental in the success of the detachment. Bev not only does her day to day duties but she is also the leader behind all of the community work that the detachment has done. Whether this is the raising of the totem pole at the detachment, which was a first of its kind, or organizing Cram the Cruiser events. Bev is always finding new ways to give back to the community. She is also the one that members of the detachment go to for help if they want to learn more about the area, the community or how the internal aspects of the detachment function. It is critical for the internal operations of an RCMP detachment to run smoothly and Bev, for the past 25 years, has ensured that new members who come to the detachment are prepared, welcomed and successful. In small detachments such as ours it is well know that the Public Servant is the one who runs the detachment and not the detachment commander, said Sgt. Willcocks.
I rely on Bev’s experience, knowledge, and leadership to ensure what I do represents the values of Haida Gwaii and the Haida Nation to ensure the RCMP grows closer to the community and provides an effective police service. When you are a Public Servant in a small community it is much more then what you do everyday. It is the ability and the freedom to be creative, get involved in the community and put your mark on the detachment.

In her role, with nearly three decades in the force, Beverly has made a huge impact to bridge the gap between the police and the Haida Nation.

The stability in the detachments is usually provided by the Office Managers. Midway RCMP is no different. Leanne McLaren has been with the RCMP for 17 years and the Midway detachment for 14 years.

Working at a smaller detachment, you do everything.

Prior to transferring to Midway, Leanne worked at the Grand Forks detachment.

What she appreciates about her job with the RCMP is the variety. No day is every the same. You are always learning.

Midway is a 3-year limited duration posting. But according to Leanne, all the employees of the detachment are like family and a valued member of the team. Every amazing officer I work with is appreciative and respectable of the support I provide.

Being the mainstay, Leanne has a wealth of knowledge with respect to the community. Though the detachment area is huge, the community of Midway is 600 people. Leanne is an asset to both the detachment and the community.

I was Leanne’s supervisor for the past two and a half years and it was amazing to have her as the Detachment Clerk. On numerous occasions she was instrumental in being able to determine who a suspect was just because she’s the constant that the detachment has that doesn’t change every three years like the members do and so she brings a plethora of local knowledge to the table, said Sgt. Philip Peters. The public looks to the officers as being the ones that solve all the crimes and put the bad guys in jail but the amount of administrative work that someone like Leanne does plays a huge part in the successful outcome of investigations.

Leanne has an innate understanding of the area, the people who live in the community, the police officers who get posted to Midway. Her unique role enables her to support both the detachment and the community with ease.

Administrative professionals within the RCMP have shown their importance to day to day police matters. They are an integral member not only of the detachments they work in but the communities in which they live and serve. They provide a consistency that members sometimes can’t, and keep the detachments running no matter what the scope of investigations might be. Not only do they provide support during investigations, but they are often the ones behind all community events. These important individuals bridge the relation between the police and their communities.

We are hiring! If you are interested in an administrative profession with the RCMP, please visit: https://bc-cb.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/ViewPage.action?languageId=1&siteNodeId=2283

Released by:
BC RCMP Communications
778 290-2929

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