Allard taking over father’s posting could be a first for RCMP
Posted on August 28, 2014 by Maple CreekSgt. Jeremy Allard is following in his father’s footsteps – and it could be a historic moment for the RCMP.
The sergeant of the Maple Creek Detachment is set to take over his dad’s position as staff sergeant at The Pas Detachment. It just might be the first time in the history of the RCMP a son has taken over his father’s staff sergeant position.
Staff Sgt. Noel Allard has been based at The Pas, Man. for the past two years and transfers this week to his new position as district advisor at Thompson, Man. Jeremy will be replacing him at The Pas as soon as his family can move there when their house in Maple Creek sells. There he will oversee two sergeants, five corporals, 20 constables and seven office support staff.
As far as they know, this is a unique situation in the RCMP.
“We’ve been asking a lot of people, my dad and myself,” Jeremy said. “The RCMP’s big on history, and… as far as we know, this has never happened before where a son takes over his father’s command at the staff sergeant level – at a detachment of this size especially.”
Noel has been with the force for 22 years, joining 10 years before his son. Jeremy was 11 years old when the family moved from his hometown of St. Laurent, Man. to Portage la Prairie, Man. for his father’s first posting. Six more transfers eventually landed Noel in The Pas on a promotion to staff sergeant.
It was his father’s path that influenced Jeremy’s decision to join the RCMP as well in 2002.
“I was 11 and that was my first real exposure to the career,” he recalled. “I did some job shadowing with people he worked with. You get together for Christmas parties as a detachment and stuff like that, and I got to hang around with a lot of police officers growing up after he joined and I think that definitely sparked an interest.”
Oddly, The Pas is also where Jeremy’s career began as he wrote his exam there to get into the RCMP.
With his family in Manitoba and his wife Shanley’s family just over the border in Saskatchewan, it has always been a goal to transfer back to Manitoba. When his father’s position became available, Jeremy jumped at the opportunity and was one of several to apply. He was eligible as he has held a sergeant position in Maple Creek for over two years. After completing the application process and an exam, he was selected.
The Pas is conveniently located between Kamsack, where Shanley’s family lives, and Thompson, Man., where Jeremy’s parents are moving.
When the transfer happens, it will be a bittersweet moment for the Allards, who have made Maple Creek their home since 2011.
“This will be my fifth detachment in 12 years, so we’re not strangers to moving boxes,” Jeremy said. “But Maple Creek’s been the second longest place I’ve ever been. It’s been over three years now, and we’re definitely in no hurry to leave. This by far in my opinion is the nicest place to work as a police officer.”
Both Jeremy and Shanley make the effort to get involved in each community they live in by volunteering and getting their kids involved, too. Jeremy has coached the Cypress Cyclones, while Shanley has coached minor hockey and baseball.
“We don’t like to think of it as being here temporarily and then we’re gone,” he said. “We want to be part of the community. We want to be involved in everything that’s going on.”
As excited as they are about the transfer, he admitted it will be tough when the moving truck arrives. But when the time comes, they will take with them many great memories.
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