RCMP S/Sgt. Bruce MacLean brings you inside the mind of a Mountie with a new series of columns exploring police work and how it’s done in our community. If you have a question you think needs answering in Mind of a Mountie, send it to admin@borderpulse.ca and we will be sure to share it with him.
It is an honour to take over this column from a respected colleague whose recent retirement marks the end of a long and successful policing career. Since the beginning of this article, S/Sgt. Nutbrown offered valuable perspectives on public safety, community partnerships, and the realities of police work. S/Sgt. Nutbrown made it to the finish line through all the challenges that come with multiple decades of policing, and I congratulate him on that achievement.
When most people think of police work, they picture patrol cars, emergency calls, investigations, and community events. What is less visible are the personal challenges officers face throughout a career, often spanning decades. The path to retirement in any career is not simply a matter of putting in years of service and policing is no different. It involves overcoming obstacles that test an officer physically, emotionally, and mentally.
Shift work disrupts sleep patterns. Holidays, birthdays, and family events are often missed. Most people look forward to long weekends while police prepare for an increase in calls for service. Officers routinely face dangerous and unpredictable situations while carrying the responsibility of making critical decisions in split seconds under pressure.
Perhaps the greatest challenge, however, is the cumulative exposure to trauma. According to a study done in 2024 by the Canadian Institute for Public Safety Research and Treatment, approximately 44.5% of Canadian Public Safety personnel screen positive for meeting diagnostic criteria for one or more mental health disorders.
Police officers are often called when people are experiencing the worst moments of their lives. While each incident may be manageable on its own, the emotional weight of witnessing human suffering year after year can leave lasting effects.A changing culture around mental health
For many years, first responders across Canada worked in cultures where discussing mental health struggles was often avoided. Thankfully, that has begun to change. Today, there is greater recognition that psychological injuries deserve the same attention and support as physical injuries.
Resilience remains an important part of policing, but resilience does not mean immunity. No amount of training can completely shield a person from the impact of repeatedly witnessing trauma. Police officers, firefighters, paramedics, dispatchers, and other first responders are human beings first. The experiences we carry home do not always disappear when our shifts end and our experiences often shape our on-duty responses.
I believe communication is important for the public to understand the actions of the police and I hope this column will allow me the opportunity to give some perspective.
To the officer who previously wrote this column, thank you for your service and leadership. To my fellow first responders, thank you for continuing to answer the call. To the communities we serve, thank you for your trust. It remains a privilege to wear this uniform and serve Canadians every day.
As I begin writing this column, I hope to offer readers an honest look at both the challenges and rewards of policing. Behind every uniform is a person committed to serving their community and I wish to give you a look into the mind of a Mountie.
S/Sgt. Bruce MacLean is taking over for the now retired Jerry Nutbrown.
