AUXILIARY OFFICER ENJOYS RCMP ACTIVITIES

It's a lot of hard work for a volunteer job, but being an RCMP
auxiliary constable is something Arnold Alstad says he has taken
pride in doing.

Alstad, 55, has served as an auxiliary member of the RCMP for the
past 13 years in Nakusp. "I've always had a passion for the RCMP," he
says. "It was my intention to join them when I got out of high
school, but unfortunately I went to work in the bush."

With the forestry industry being in the dumps, Alstad has been
working more and more with local RCMP. Auxiliary officers must put in
170 volunteer hours each year. Alstad says he's been averaging
400-500 hours for a few years now.

"I've been very fortunate with the Nakusp detachment," he says. "I've
worked with some real awesome members and I've been allowed to do
more than most auxiliaries get to do, especially in bigger cities
because there's a variety of things to do."

One of Alstad's passions in helping the RCMP is dealing with drugs.
He's worked with the Kootenay-Boundary GIS section, flying in
helicopters trying to find larger grow operations and helping local
RCMP in executing search warrants. Other duties involve riding along
with regular members and generally helping in any situation where
RCMP may need an extra hand.

"My interests are the drugs and to keep them away from the kids,
because I have a passion for kids," says Alstad. "If I can get one
marijuana plant, it's one more the kids can't get their hands on."

To become an auxiliary officer is a lot of hard work. Alstad says the
training is very intense - and he admits that some regular members
have commented that he has more paper work than they do. The
training, amongst other things, involves self-defence, hand-to-hand
combat and use of force. The credentials to be an auxiliary must be
renewed every two years.

The Nakusp RCMP detachment is allowed two auxiliary officers, says
Alstad, adding anyone who wishes to try the position must be willing
to sacrifice time for training and the volunteer hours.

Alstad is an avid hunter of all different kinds of game and also a
forestry contractor with Alstad Brothers Logging Ltd.