A former RCMP officer was recently remembered at a ceremony in Sechelt, where he spent his RCMP career serving his own community.
RCMP Const. Carl Dixon, a member of the shíshálh Nation, joined the force in 1977 and spent his 20-year career working in his home community of Sechelt.
Dixon, who passed away in 1999 at age 53, was honoured on May 17 by the RCMP, the current chief and council of the Sechelt Indian Band, and other community members.
Dixon was fondly remembered in memoriam by many. Sunshine Coast RCMP’s current First Nations policing officer, Const. Glen Martin, said during the ceremony how “Carl was described to me as the salt of the earth, a person who would give you the shirt off his back, and always had his finger on the pulse of the community.” After speaking with other officers who had served with Dixon, Martin also remarked how “it must have been difficult at times for Carl to balance the responsibilities of being a police officer with still being a part of the community he grew up in.” Nevertheless, Dixon was remembered as being a true inspiration to others.
It was Martin who spearheaded the recognition ceremony, after hearing from so many people about the good work Dixon had done.
Martin, said Const. Harrison Mohr, “felt it was important to recognize [Dixon’s] efforts, and also to provide an inspiration to Sechelt Indian Band youth who may want to join the RCMP.”
Dixon was originally a special constable then switched to a regular member after 10 years of service.
“For the purposes of the type of police work he did, it doesn’t sound like there was a significant change in his duties between the two,” Mohr said.
The plaque presented to the shíshálh Nation will be mounted in the Elder’s boardroom in memory of Dixon.
