Why I Wear Red
I could have chosen to join any police force but I chose the RCMP – I chose to wear Red. When you put on the
RCMP’S scarlet tunic, you wrap yourself in the very fabric of Canadian identity; we are the Red thread interlacing the tapestry of public safety in this country.
Wearing Red makes you stand out, and it transforms people’s expectations of you. It’s easy to wear Red when things are going well, it’s quite the opposite when they’re not. But none of us signed up because we thought this job would be easy.
Now, what you may not realize is that you wear Red too. In Canada, we police by consent – public consent. It is one of the first principles of modern policing, outlined by Sir Robert Peel in 1829. This is an implicit contract with you, the public, that says you trust in our ability to objectively and professionally maintain the rule of law. You support us. You criticize us. You challenge us. And when you do, it makes us better. It keeps us accountable. Together, we have a partnership in public safety, and thus, you wear Red.
At the Surrey Board of Trade Police Officer of the Year Awards, you honoured us by validating the work and dedication of our members. It was a night where we reaffirmed our implicit contract with you and celebrated all that we’ve accomplished together to enhance public safety in this city.
I offer my sincere thanks to everyone who was a part of the 2019 Police Officer of the Year Awards. On behalf of all of us at the Surrey RCMP, it is truly an honour and a privilege to serve you in Red.