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FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, 2001 16 - "WEEKEND STAR" . By Rik Davie Weekend Star Les Neville and Rick Keeler couldn't have gone into a life of policing for reasons more different from each other if they had tried. : One did it on 3 bet, and the other after find- ing out the business world didn't satisfy him. Both have served North Durham in some of its most trying times and both will hang up their guns and handcuffs with- in days of each other Les Neville has been a ®Jetective in the Criminal GRACE NICOLE & CLAYTON JAMES MCINTYRE Born December 28, 2000 Proud parents ar Kim & Buck Mcintyre T { L! H : Ee] § § H 5 & hy * Cash & Cary * Expert Custom Installation available + 23 years experience 193 North Street, Port Perry (905) 985-4910 1-800-788-0270 Veteran police detectives Les Neville and Rick Keeler call it a career Investigations Branch out of 26 Division in Port Perry for 10 of his nearly 30 years in policing, and has served the North Durham area as a patrol officer and as a sergeant. Tall, lean and quiet, he is an intense investigator who takes pride and own- ership of the area where - he has both policed and lived for much of his career, Strangely, for a dedi- cated officer with a back- ground working some of the highest profile. cases in the force's history, he got into policing on a bet. "It was a bet between myself and some friends in the parking lot of an A &E WwW restaurant," Det. Neville said with a wry smile. "There were four of us and myself and one other fella were accepted onto the Toronto force." Until then, the trained land surveyor thought his career was planned. After five years of policing the mean streets of Toronto at 41 Division, he decid- ed it was time for a change. Det. Neville was hired by Durham and spent the next few years farming part-time in North Durham and patrolling the Brock, Uxbridge and - New Home aying farewell to two of Dy Rick Keeler Scugog communities that became home for him, his wife and their two now- grown sons. He has seen much of the change that has come to policing as positive. "Most of the change has been in the last five years," he said. "I would have to say that comput- ers have made the biggest and most posi- tive change, but if you ask for a' high point, one would have to be that | was here to see Al Robins acquitted." (Robins was found not guilty in the shooting of a I7-year-old whom he believed was about to injure another officer dur- ing an'arrest.) REPU WINDOWS & DOORS | for Construction and your Renovation Projects Les Neville Another was his two- year stint on "Project Had", the joint task force investigation that led to the conviction of notori- ous bank robber Mickey McArthur for the 1994 Port Perry Bank robbery. That incident left two civilians and three of Det. Neville's fellow officers of 26 Division wounded by gunfire as McArthur made his escape. The investi- gation led to the convic- tion and long jail term of the man who wrote 3 book entitled I'd Rather Be Wanted Than Had, thus the name "Project Had". Now, Det. Neville intends to spend time on the things he loves: car restoration and construc- tion projects. Across from Les Neville sits a man whose career in policing has almost paralleled Det. Neville's, and whose retirement will actually mean an increase in his service to his community. Det. Rick Keeler looks like a cop. Broad across the shoulders, his close- cropped hair and military mustache frame a set of eyes that peer out at the world with a permanent look of amused suspi- cion. The look tells you that while he may not have seen it all, at some point he certainly expects to, Rick Keeler started policing 25 years ago after a college degree in electronics didn't satisfy his need for community service. "I like to help," was his brief explanation for a career that has saw him come to Uxbridge as a patrol officer in 1978 Except for seven months in the south shortly after his promotion to the Criminal Investigations Branch, he has remained here to work and live along with his wife of 27 years and their two adult sons. Another area of com- munity service called to Rick Keeler and he has, for most of his life in the rham Region's finest area, been an active member of the Cannington Volunteer Fire Department, rising to his present rank of act- ing Fire Chief. Of his last day on the job this week, he said: "| will miss the people | worked with here; these are good people doing a good job." As for high points he hasn't one, only good memories of many moments with fellow offi- cers over the years. A moment that stands out was simple and sobering for the veteran cop. "It was my partner and I who found the body of Christine Jessop," Det. Keeler said. "On-and-off we lived with that case for nearly 10 years." © The conviction of Guy Paul Morin was eventual- ly overturned, and the ljt- tle girl's killer has never been found. Det. Keeler will have little time to savour a hammock or a fishing pole after his last day on the job; he will continue in his role as a volunteer fire fighter and when his pager goes off he will still race from his safe home into harm's way to protect the community he loves along with the other vol- unteers of the Cannington Fire Hall. Want to send a note to the editor? Got a beef or a story. idea? Email us: editorial@portperrystar.com Durham * 3M Scotchguard 2% * Broadloom eam * Upholstery Geib * Loose Rugs 852-6711 TREN Oldsmobile Cadillac Corp. HEATHER JONES RES. (905) 986-4690 x \ SALES & LEASING REPRESENTATIVE (705) 328-2657 Hwy. 7 & 35 Box 567 Lindsay, Ontario Tel: - (705) 324-3533 Fax: