Retired cop shares stories of a successful career
Everyone can make a positive impact regardless of where they work.
On Tuesday at the annual general meeting of the Aboriginal Government Employees Network, former police officer Ernie Louttit shared what he has learned throughout his career.
Now retired from policing, the new author enjoys using his own story to motivate others.
In his 27 years as a police officer, Louttit says one of the most important things he has learned is patience.
Louttit said it’s the little things that can make a big difference in the long run.
After serving eight years as a soldier, he started his police career in 1987 with the Saskatoon Police Service (SPS).
At that time, he was one of only three aboriginal police members. He became easily recognizable in the community, and it earned him the nickname Indian Ernie.
Two years ago, he retired and wrote a book about his experience, which he titled Indian Ernie.
Louttit said things have changed since the 1980s and believes they have changed for the better.
He said the Saskatoon Police Service is not the same one he joined, but it took some dark moments like the Neil Stonechild inquiry for it to make drastic changes.
When Louttit retired two years ago, more than 50 of the SPS’s members self-declared as being aboriginal, which he believes has made a difference.
He believes those aboriginal members will go a long way in creating meaningful change.
“We are at that point in our country and in our province where we need to engage aboriginal youth — we absolutely need to engage them,” he said. “We also need to set the example that it’s doable.”
He believes it’s everyone’s responsibility to reach out and engage the youth and to lead by example, which is the message he has been sharing with others.
“It doesn’t matter what you are doing,” said Louttit. “If they see you doing it and you are succeeding then you are setting an example.”
He said an aboriginal person’s role becomes increasingly important when they work for a government organization.
“The more First Nations people we have actively engaged in government then the more we bring a First Nation perspective even if they don’t know we’re bringing it,” said Louttit.
He said essentially everyone wants the same things out of life and the sooner everyone realizes that then the better off everyone will be.
Louttit said the best way to understand one another is through education.
“IF THEY SEE YOU DOING IT AND YOU ARE SUCCEEDING THEN YOU ARE SETTING AN EXAMPLE.” ERNIE LOUTTIT