Forty years of service
Kentville police sergeant among those recognized by lieutenant-governor for dedication to policing
Sgt. Wilfred Andrews was among six Kentville police officers honoured with Police Exemplary Service Medals July 5 at Government House in Halifax.
During the ceremony, 25 recipients from across Nova Scotia were presented with medals by the Lieutenant-governor of Nova Scotia in recognition for having served in an exemplary manner, characterized by good conduct, industry and efficiency.
Andrews, a Cape Breton native, joined Kentville Police Service in 1981, when he was 24 years old, just three years after becoming an officer in Cape Breton at age 21.
Since then, the 61-year-old has served 37 consecutive years in Kentville, and said he feels honoured to accept the recognition for his service.
“Receiving the medal is a great honour,” said Andrews. “And I feel honoured and privileged to be able to accept it.”
Andrews added that, while he enjoys every aspect of his job, to him, having the opportunity to help people is the most rewarding part. That’s also the reason why he got into policing in the first place.
“I enjoy every aspect of the job, certainly interaction with the public, with my colleagues, and with the people that I get to meet and attempt to help every day,” said Andrews. “Policing in general is a career that’s rewarding, and doing it for 40 years, I just feel honoured that I got the opportunity to work with the men and women of the Kentville Police Service during that time, and I also feel very privileged that I got the opportunity to serve and protect the citizens of Kentville.”
When asked about his most memorable policing experiences, the sergeant explained that, while there have been so many, two have stuck out for him over the years.
The first experience, Andrews explained, was a tragic event in which he attempted to save the life of an individual who had been trapped in a house fire but was unable to do so. He added that this experience is a reminder of the more serious side of the job.
“We, as police, have to deal with difficult situations, and we encounter difficult situations quite often,” said Andrews. “And, you know, we see more in a short time than most people see in a lifetime. It’s just the nature of the job.”
The second experience that stuck out for Andrews was the time he spent taking part in the Kentville Police Youth Club, which existed when he first moved to Kentville.
“When I first joined, we had a Kentville Police Youth Club,” said Andrews. “Kids joined, and we did things like kayaking, swimming, and games. It was a great experience for us to give back to, and help, the community, and that was certainly rewarding to me.”
Andrews added to this day, he still sees some of the kids who had been part of the club and stayed in Kentville.
Looking back, Andrews said overall, he’s had a good career and is happy to have been able to serve the people of his community. While he isn’t quite ready for retirement, he is looking forward to the opportunity to spend more time doing the other things he loves: spending time with his grandchildren and fishing.
Other members of the Kentville Police honoured include Sgt. George Dunphy and Inspector Ken Reade, who were both recognized for 40 years of service; Sgt. Ron Delorey, recognized for 30 years of service; and Const. Mike Goss and Const. Kevin Lutz, each recognized for 20 years of service.