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8 - The Canadian Champion, Tuesday, July 7,1998 F RCMP super says he stili thrives on the work By IRENE GENTLE Special ta the Champion A fter 32 years i n the force, the new super- intendent of the Milton RCMP detach- ment is exactly where he wants to be. Colin Adams took over duties as superintendent of Milton in March of this year. The Milton office is in charge of policing Toronto. Etobicoke. Halton and Peel Regions. He began his career fresb eut ef higb sebeet in his bomnetewn of Edmonton. He had ne lamily background in pelicing. He bad three brothers and a sister in Edmonton. None (ilthent opted te follow in his footsteps. A life devoted te fending off the bad guys is bound te sound good te any kid not yet eut of is teens. StilI, Superintendent Adams recalîs a more noble motivation for joining the police. 'The most appealing aspect te me was service to my country," be said. Witb the decision te be a cep made, he bad te choose between joining Edmonton's police force or the RCMP. He leoked at tbe opportunities presented by both and tigured it was ne choice at aIl. The RCMP won banda dewn. It seemed like an exciting and interesting tbing te do," said Superintendent Adams. -l was young and 1 didn't sec mysell in the short termn staying in one spot." His first destination was Regina. for training. He spent a short time being a part of the RCMP Musical Ride, then ond imself posted te Surrey. BC. I did both uniform patrol werk and what vou would caîl detec- tive work there," fie said. -I investigated a wide variety ef crimes, from armed robbery te homicides." As it tumed eut, the young man who had joined the RCMP te sec more of Canada pretty mucb stayed in Surrey. IHe mamred in 1972. The union soon bore twin daugbters. Tbey are nox 22, attending college and in the naval reserve. Superintendent Adams imself retumed te scbool after a white, taking university classes at night. It was a fairly stable life, interrupted only in 1987, wben he arrived in Toronto te be in charge of the executive diplomatie protection unit. He moved on te become supermntendent of the Newmarket detachment in 1992. Today, as superintendent of the Milton RCMP branch, Colin Adamns spearheads investigations mbt federal issues sucb as drug enforcement, commercial crimes, immigration and customs unit investigations. That means whether it's smuggling contraband produets or ille- Photo by GRAHAM PAINE Colin Adams finds the symbols and day-to-day realities of RCMP leadership a comfortable fit after more than three decades in the federal police force. gai immigrants, he's on the case. In Ontario, unlike most other provinces, the RCMP works strictly on federal cases. It is vital l'or Ontario RCMP to bave good relationships with the surrounding police forces. "I'd say that now more than ever we work in partnership witb other police departments,- said Superintendent Adams. -There was a ime when everyone worked within their own sanctities. Now we cant survive or bc successlul uniess we have those part- nerships." He aIse says that the days of' blowout police budgets, il' they ever existed at al, are over. "Were working ver hard to ensure weve aligned oui eclorce- ment to be thc most effective and economnical." Hc repeats those thoughits olten Mien lie talks. consciotis et bisý mIle as administraor and inaybc even public relations mati for ftic somctimes beleaguered image et' policing in the 1990s. Asked why lie lias loved his job l'or 32 years. what one hears is e sente- oneC who loves to bust the bad guys. 'Jvc been in the RCMP lor 32 vears and I've aIwavs been ni the enlercement end ol what we do.' he said. I"s doing the job I joirîed up to do. Froin day one that's sslierc I've been and thats where I would like te stas.* Council helps rebuildplay area By BRAD REAUME The Champion Squeals of laughter wiIl again echo around the grounds of Brookville Public School. Members of town council's community services committecewill contribute $18,00 to build a creative playground at Brookville Publie School, il was deeided recentty. The school council bas commit- ted 10 repaying $8,000 over the next four years. Play equipment has been previeusly located on the site but was removed in the spring because of safety concemrs. According to several speakers the equip- ment was used by many people ither dur- ing sehool hours or in support of nearby basebaîl diamonds. Doug Thompson, co-ordinator of parks and facilities development, told committee members that replacement of the play equipment was not budgeted inte 1998 Town capital plan. He said without special consideratien ne equipment could be installed for at leasi a year. Barry Duke, a member of' the school counicil, said the $8000 provided by (tie council was a major commntent but worth il because ef the nature (il the park. He explained that the council was aIse lur- nishing basketballs. tether baIl and a winter skating rink 1or flie park. We ve delivered a ton.*Ilet us deliver~ your message for pas J.ittle as0 coy J' - Cali * ReI