History of Kelowna RCMP

1892

• The townsite of Kelowna is founded and named, and the BC Provincial Police is on contract for policing services in the town.  Neil Thompson, a blacksmith by trade, is hired as Kelowna's first Provincial Police Constable. 

1895

• Provincial Police Constable Richard Roberts Lowe is the lone police force in Kelowna. Police quarters include two cells and a guard room (located on the south side of Bernard Avenue), then considered quite adequate for Kelowna’s needs.

1905

• On May 5, the City of Kelowna is encorporated and appropriate bylaws and laws were passed.

1906

• Kelowna City Council passed a bylaw and instructed the presiding Chief of Police, William Brent, to prohibit nude bathing in Okanagan Lake between 6 a.m. – 9 p.m. Skinny-dippers were fined $100 or sentenced to 30 days in jail!

1907

• Use of dog tags was considered due to the excess of dogs running loose in the city. Dog taxes were enforced.

1907

• Breaking horses on Kelowna city streets was prohibited.

1908

• Reckless riding of bicycles on city sidewalks was a chief complaint.

1909

• Kelowna City Council approved a night constable to help stop theft and to provide more fire protection. Police Chief Thomas Hidson was the only other city policeman in Kelowna at that time.

1910

• Any means of transportation not drawn by horses was prohibited to drive at a speed of more than 15 m.p.h. A speeding ticket would cost offenders no less than $100.

1912
February

• "The entire police force resigns” – the Chief of Police, Ian MacRae and the night policeman, D. Fitzpatrick.

1912
March

• The greatest manhunt in the Okanagan’s history, up to that point occurred.  Armed with a colt revolver, Walter Boyd James (aka "W. Poehlke, an American-born teamster, living in Kelowna) and Frank Wilson robbed Chater & Taylor’s Store in South Kelowna, March 16, 1912.  They were quickly arrested in Penticton by Provincial Constable Geoffrey Haredale Aston, and were destined for return to Kelowna on the S.S. Okanagan.  However, as they neared Peachland, James shot Constable Aston with a hidden revolver, and he and Wilson made good their escape. On March 20, they were recaptured by Percy H.L. Seeley and R.D. Ramsay at Wilson’s Landing. Constable Aston died at Kelowna on March 29, and Boyd James was subsequently charged with first degree murder.  On August 9, 1912, at Kamloops, James was hanged for the murder of Constable Aston.  Frank Wilson was found not guilty of the Aston murder.

1913

• March brought about $189.50 in fines and 48 hours of prisoner street work from those who could not pay their fines.

1932

• On January 19, 1932, Kelowna residents were shicked by a brutal double-homicide.  The body of Genevieve Nolan was found in the rotunda of the Mayfair Hotel, at the south end of Bernard Avenue.  A short time later, the lifeless body of Archibald "Archie" McDonald former Kelowna police constable, was found in his residence on Lake Avenue.  Both deaths were caused by gunshot wounds. Numerous witnesses to the murders gave very detailed descriptions of the suspect and Kelowna's Chief of Police, David Murdoch, was soon arrested and charged with the two murders.  Both victims were known to him.  Murdoch was found "not guilty by reason of insanity" for the fatal shootings of Genevieve Nolan and ex-constable Archie McDonald.

1932

• Well-respected Kelowna businessman, Wong Same (better known as Wong Bat), was brutally murdered.  Manager of the Kong Wo Company, share-holder in the Golden Pheasant Cafe and very prominent in Kelowna's China Town, Wong Bat's lifeless body was found face-down on the lawn of his residence (Eli Avenue; now Harvey Avenue), on the morning of November 2. Known to carry large amounts of money on his person, less than ten dollars were found on his body, leading to speculation that robbery was the motive for his murder.  The local print media reported, "A plausible theory is that his assistant, familiar with the habits of Wong Bat, lay in waiting just beside the fence." It is believed that there was no conviction for this murder.

1932

• One month later, Rutland businessman Charlie Wing was robbed on Rutland Road.

1934

• Motorists are warned not to park in the middle of Bernard Avenue between the light standards as this is in contravention of the law.

1950

• August 15 - RCMP officially takeover policing in Kelowna with 7 RCMP Officers stationed in an old wooden building in downtown Kelowna. Commanding Officer Thomas was the first RCMP in Charge in Kelowna.

1951

• RCMP Kelowna detachment is moved to City Hall, on Bernard Avenue.

1962

• RCMP Kelowna detachment is moved once again, to a new administration building on Doyle Avenue, where it remain to this day.

1965

• April 10 - Constable Neil Bruce was mortally wounded while attempting to rescue a young woman who had been assaulted and held captive in a remote cabin above Westbank.  Constables Bruce and Ken Jones approached the suspect, when Bruce was shot.  The suspect then escaped arrest.  Constable Bruce died in Kelowna General Hospital on April 14, at the age of 26; he had been with the force for 6 years.  A massive manhunt was immediately launched for the murder suspect.  On April 19, facing imminent arrest for the murder of Constable Bruce, William Russell Spears, fatally shot himself, bringing to an end a tragic and brutal drama.  Constable Neil Bruce Middle School in West Kelowna is named in honor of the young RCMP constable who made the ultimate sacrifice.

1973

• Kelowna's population has tripled in size and the Doyle Avenue police detachment has extensive renovations and the addition of a second floor.

1977

• RCMP force now number 49 with a request for 6 more officers. They were granted 2, making a force of 51.

1978

• September - $284,414 worth of renovations were made to the Doyle Avenue RCMP building.

2010

• Still situated on Doyle Avenue, the Kelowna RCMP Detachment currently comprises:

• 156 Members/Officers
• 64 Municipal Employees
• 48 Auxiliaries
• 124 Volunteers