On the beat for 50 years
Const. Sandy Harrison looks back on a half century of policing
November is a big month for Const. Sandy Harrison of the Niagara Regional Police.
Wednesday Harrison celebrated his 70th birthday, and on Nov. 21, he will enter his 50th year of being a police officer. On Wednesday a group of Welland Court House staff presented Harrison with a cake with 70 candles. When he blew out the candles, he said he thought the smoke detectors were going to go off there was so much smoke.
Harrison’s long career began when he was a 21- year- old man from Winnipeg, Man., living and studying in Sudbury to gain the skills to work in a factory. But Harrison said he always wanted to be a police officer, so when he opened the local newspaper in 1968 to see an advertisement for a police job in Welland, he decided to apply.
“All the guys who were working were asking me to come down to work at the Atlas and Inco plants,” he said.
But Harrison couldn’t picture himself working on an assembly line or in an office all day. He said he wanted to make a difference in people’s lives and to be able to go outside and meet people.
Harrison laughed saying his friends would ask him why he’d take a job paying $ 4,000 a year, when he could be making $ 6,000 at Atlas Steel. But for Harrison, it was never about the money, it was about loving what he did.
“At that time it was big money. If you went to the A& P store two loafs of bread 29 cents ... 31 cents a gallon for gasoline, look at what it is now.”
For the first two years on the job Harrison had to walk the beat. He said officers weren’t allowed to have vehicles until they’d put in their time. When they did get a vehicle, he said they were old repainted vehicles with a sticker placed on it reading “Welland Police.”
Harrison said if someone got into an accident the vehicle would be taken away and they’d be back to walking.
Back then, he said there was no Tim Hortons or 24 hour coffee shops, so in winter it would get cold walking the streets with nowhere to take a break. He said there was one hotel where cops would stop for a coffee and warm up. Harrison laughed saying his staff sergeant would know where they were during winter because the sergeant could just follow the foot prints in the snow, so they’d have to pay attention to that.
Harrison enjoyed walking the beat, saying he got to really know the community and the people who lived in Welland. He’d become familiar with the local store owners and know when there was an issue just by seeing who was working or who was behind the counter.
When Harrison took the job in 1968 the Niagara Regional Police hadn’t been established yet, instead each community had it’s own police force. Welland had 14 police officers during that time.
The NRP wasn’t established until 1971 after the Region had been established and there was a push for a central government, central police and central fire department.
For Harrison, the establishment of the NRP was a good thing because it offered opportunities for advancement.
“It was great ( the NRP). At the time we were a small town, so we would have to call for assistance, either Niagara Falls or the OPP, that was the option,” he said.
But he said it was confusing when it happened because suddenly people were slapping new signs on doors and they didn’t really know what was happening.
With the NRP came better radio systems, vehicles, an association. But Harrison said prior to the NRP he could spend more time meeting people within the community.
Harrison’s favourite part of the job is still talking to people and helping them however he can. When he was a beat cop he enjoyed giving guidance and support to people who had been robbed or had lost a loved one. In his current job, he said he still helps people, whether it’s locating specific services or a room in the court house building.
At 65 Harrison could have retired, but he chose to continue working because he still enjoys his job. Currently he works at the Welland Court House as security and swearing in documents. Prior to that he worked at head quarters for 10 years. Two and half years ago he decided he needed a change and moved to the court
It was great ( the NRP). At the time we were a small town, so we would have to call for assistance, either Niagara Falls or the OPP, that was the option.”
Const. Sandy Harrison
house.
Harrison said the best advice he can give new police officer’s is to “keep your nose clean.” He said it’s best to stay away from gambling or any other vices, to avoid getting into any trouble.
For aspiring police officers, Harrison said Niagara College has a great accredited program — Police Foundations — that will prepare them for the job. He also suggested aspiring police officers should get involved in their community by volunteering or attending events.
Harrison doesn’t plan on retiring any time soon, he said as long as he enjoys the work, he’ll keep coming.
When asked if he thinks his coworkers will do something for his 50th anniversary next November, he laughed and said “I hope not.”