Staff Sgt. Danny Willis

Born: Langford

Years of service: 33

Staff Sgt. Danny Willis is proof that you can go home again. Willis, who was born and raised in Langford, took over in November as Operations NCO for the West Shore RCMP after 33 years of service elsewhere.

B次元官网网址淚 had no interest in police work,B次元官网网址� Willis says. B次元官网网址淚 was a Grade 12 student at Belmont studying to be a CPA when a buddy got me involved in handling safety and traffic issues at the school. We worked with Cpl. Don Alexander, and he really turned me on to policing.B次元官网网址�

Willis joined the RCMP in 1978 after an 18-month stint volunteering as an Auxiliary Constable with the West Shore RCMP.

B次元官网网址淚 started out with 10 years in small-town Saskatchewan, IB次元官网网址檝e worked in a two-man detachment in the Kootenays and in Richmond, which has 154 members. It gives you a sense of what works and what doesnB次元官网网址檛. Most of my career has been general duty, but IB次元官网网址檝e done some plain clothes and worked every type of investigation from the most minor to the most major.B次元官网网址�

That experience lends itself well to his current position at the West Shore detachment, where he is second in charge, overseeing the day to day operations and members.

B次元官网网址淭he nice thing about my position is that I really like mentoring the younger members,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 see quality assurance as a major part of my mandate to ensure we deliver a high level of quality service to the community.B次元官网网址�

That can be a difficult task in an area such as the West Shore, which has experienced so much growth, Willis noted.

B次元官网网址淭he population has probably doubled in the last 30 years, but, sadly services havenB次元官网网址檛 grown at the same rate to keep pace. ItB次元官网网址檚 a constant challenge to get the most out of the resources that are available,B次元官网网址� he says.

Fortunately, Willis believes growth on the West Shore appears to be organized, as opposed to sprawled.

B次元官网网址淢any of the changes, such as Veterans Memorial Parkway, make communities more accessible, which makes our work easier. It used to be a challenge to get from Langford to Colwood, but the VMP and other improvements make the West Shore more like one community as opposed to five isolated areas.B次元官网网址�

Willis says one of the nice things about the way the RCMP is structured is the experience the organization has accrued in dealing with different sized communities.

B次元官网网址淭hat enables us to get more involved in the communities we serve,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e well versed in the  roles that  CPAC (Community Policing Advisory Council), Speedwatch and the Auxiliaries play. All these volunteers gives us enhanced policing services that would impact taxes astronomically if we had to pay for them.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚, in particular, and the RCMP in general, really value these services, and work closely to maximize their positive impact on the community.B次元官网网址�

Willis, a self-described idealist, subscribes to a simple philosophy when it comes to policing.

B次元官网网址淲e need to maximize our resources in an effort to put us out of a job,B次元官网网址� he explains. B次元官网网址淚 know itB次元官网网址檚 unrealistic to think weB次元官网网址檒l get there, but the journey maximizes our efforts.B次元官网网址�

The journey back to the West Shore has been great so far.

B次元官网网址淭he biggest reason we wanted to come back is because two of my three adult children live here, and this is where we want to retire.B次元官网网址�

rick.stiebel@rcmp-grc.gc.ca

B次元官网网址擱ick Stiebel is the Langford-RCMP community liaison.