Dozens of police officers from around Greater Victoria joined hundreds of residents to salute former Central Saanich Chief George T.L. Lawson during a memorial service held Thursday afternoon in Sidney.
Lawson died on Dec. 29, 2018 after a lengthy battle with ParkinsonB次元官网网址檚 Disease, leaving behind Carol, his wife of 56 years, son Cameron, daughter Leanne, and four grandchildren. During his policing career, he served 24 years in RCMP, starting in Saskatchewan, with stops in Victoria and Port Alberni. Following a brief career in real estate, Lawson joined the Central Saanich Police as a deputy chief in 1986. He retired as Chief Constable in 1999.
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The memorial held at SidneyB次元官网网址檚 Mary Winspear Centre drew ordinary citizens and top brass representing the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and municipal police forces and it was a member of the Vancouver Police Department B次元官网网址� LawsonB次元官网网址檚 son Cameron B次元官网网址� who described Lawson as a person who lived life to the fullest.
B次元官网网址淲hen dad passed, a good friend sent me a message,B次元官网网址� said Sgt. Lawson. B次元官网网址淚t read, B次元官网网址楲ifeB次元官网网址檚 journey is not to arrive in the grave safely, but skidding in sideways, totally worn out, shouting B次元官网网址榟oly sB次元官网网址攖, what a ride.B次元官网网址� Dad was always smiling, and he lived his life like that.B次元官网网址�
Speakers Andy Anderson, Andy Rosequist, Rick Maillot, and Wade Murray underscored this sentiment, with anecdotes from LawsonB次元官网网址檚 professional and personal life that eventually earned him in the words of his son the reputation of cowboy philosopher.
Rosequist, who served as LawsonB次元官网网址檚 deputy, often addressed him with a drawl. Lawson also had a habit of punctuating stories with a giggle. He also had a fondness for rye whiskey and water that did not end with LawsonB次元官网网址檚 arrival in the Sidney retirement centre where he would regal other residents and recount old stories with visiting friends.
B次元官网网址淗ere is to you, old friend,B次元官网网址� said Rosequist, as he took a swig out of a whiskey bottle.
Others such as Anderson, who first met Lawson, when they underwent RCMP training, praised Lawson for his gentle and charitable demeanour with which he led others, correcting others with B次元官网网址渒indness and passion,B次元官网网址� as Maillot said.
B次元官网网址淒espite decades of police service, his humility remained so profound,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淔or many of us, he was a father figure, as much as a police chief.B次元官网网址�
Sgt. Wade Murray, now serving with the Victoria Police Department, broke down several times in describing LawsonB次元官网网址檚 influence on his career and person.
B次元官网网址淕eorge is, and always will be my hero. Rest in peace, Chief.B次元官网网址�
wolfgang.depner@saanichnews.com
