When Corporal Jeremy Houle was promoted to Sargeant and transferred to the Coronation RCMP Detachment earlier this summer, his leaving left an opening in the Killam Detachment. The position was posted Canada wide, and caught the attention of Cst. Andrea Bole.
She applied for the position and was awarded it, and a promotion, this fall.
Bole is a familiar face around the Killam Detachment, having started her RCMP career here in 2006 fresh from Depot. She worked at the Detachment through to 2016, when she was transferred to Viking.
When Bole entered service with the RCMP, she had a Bachelor degree in Psychology from McGill University. During her time in Killam and Viking, she continued her studies and this past August graduated with a Masters Degree in Counselling and Psychology from Athabasca University.
Bole says she has a passion for the study and treatment of PTSD and trauma, and that ties in well with some of the calls that members have to deal with.
During Bole’s time at the Killam Detachment, she started a family, and truly fell in love with the Flagstaff County community.
She says currently she’s still responding to calls in Killam and in Viking, but expects to move fully into the role of Corporal as vacancies in both detachments fill.
“Because I’ve lived in the community for so long, I hope to bring junior members into the community and into the schools, and help them to be more visible.
“I think that helps our members and the community.”
She adds, “That’s how I was brought in with Sgt. Phil Wilson, he got me out of the detachment, whether it was having coffee with the farmers, or attending grand openings.”
Bole is also presently actively working as a mentor in an Alberta pilot program through Alberta Women in Policing. The program encompasses women in all facets and areas of law enforcement. With her experience, she was selected as a mentor and has already been matched up with another person.
Bole is the first female corporal in the history of the Killam Detachment.
She’s also in a peer-to-peer advisory position, where she can provide advice, and referrals to professionals when the need arises.
“Having 18 years in community front line policing, I’ve been at the scenes for 18 years.”
She says she stays grounded through having her family, social support network, “and by having a very supportive community around me.”
Bole says living in a small community means that confidentiality is a very important aspect of her job. “I have very strict routines for keeping my work separate from my personal life. I compartmentalize; when my uniform is off, I’m a mom, a partner, and a community member.”
But Bole says she also has people approach her with policing issues while she’s off duty. She says, “That’s one of the strengths of being visible in your community. There’s no overlap when I change my role, I hold myself to very strict interior confidentiality.
“Being visible in the community is my ethical response to my role. The RCMP tells us that we are always police officers; we always have that responsibility.
“We also don’t have anonymity in a small community; but it’s my decision to help even when I’m not on duty.”
She’s now working as a corporal with fellow constables who were peers until her promotion.
“The detachment members are very respectful to my leadership feedback. Our members know what they are doing. I’m here for guidance and support – we’re all learning together.”
Because of her seniority, Bole has been in a leadership role anyway, she says, with predominantly junior members coming into the detachment. “Now I just have a title. I’m still just supporting them.”
As she has to go out to fewer calls, Bole plans to undertake more community based actions. “I’d like us to be less reactive and more pro-active.”
She will also take advantage of any training opportunities available, while scheduling members, reviewing files, and providing guidance.
“There are a lot of crime reduction strategies coming down through the Eastern Alberta District, and I’m looking forward to sharing those with the detachment area.
“I love policing. I love my job, and I love this community. I love responding to victim’s needs for help and assistance, and using the knowledge I’ve gained over the past 18 years to mentor junior members coming from Depot. To guide them and to show leadership to these passionate, capable, knowledgeable new members.”
The Killam Detachment is lucky right now, with a full complement of members, now that Bole and a new constable from Depot have arrived.
“I also consider myself very lucky to work with Sgt. Andy Wetzstein.
“He’s so knowledgeable about how policy works and has so much experience. Our front counter staff, too, bring a wealth of experience and knowledge.”
Bole says that the Killam Detachment is also very fortunate to still have Victim Services personnel here.
“My project was Flagstaff Victim Services when I first came here in 2006.
“I’m also happy for opportunities to partner with FFCS and other services to support all the communities in Flagstaff County and Amisk.
“I have big shoes to fill with Corporal Houle’s former presence at the detachment and in the community.”
Leslie Cholowsky
Editor