“Vernon’s Safe Communities Unit Loses Manager to Forensics”

Media Release City of Vernon:
The man who put the Vernon RCMP Safe Communities Unit on the map is leaving his position to begin work with the RCMP’s Forensic Identification Unit. Since coming to Vernon in 1990, after 25 years of service with the RCMP, Terry took his retirement from the RCMP in 1999. But, like most retirees, took on a new career, and became the Manager of the Crime Prevention Unit. In 2000, he instituted a name change to the Vernon RCMP Safe Communities Unit as it better reflected what the Unit actually did, and has since then, grown the department from a staff of three to seven and maintained a volunteer base of over 100. The success of the Unit, according to Pakenham, has been “the incredible depth of talent and skill of the paid staff and the unbelievable dedication and commitment of the volunteer base. Our community has gone through significant changes in ten years, both positive and negative. Recently there have been incredible accomplishments through collaborative and cooperative efforts at the agency and nonprofit level resulting in offsetting many of the negative influences.”

As the 9th busiest unit in British Columbia, Terry Pakenham’s vision was the driving force behind these many accomplishments. During his tenure, over 56 programs have been developed for the benefit of all Vernon’s citizens. They include: Crime Stoppers, Citizens on Patrol, Speed Watch, Restorative Justice, Auto Crime Prevention, Block Captain Program, River Watch and the Partners in Action Committee, set up as a warehouse of information and coordination of activities in the community regarding social issues. On his own time, Terry has also acted in an advisory capacity to local non-profits as well as to most of the communities in the North Okanagan who now have their own personnel attached to the Safe Communities Unit. When asked why he was making this change Terry responded “it takes a wise man to know when to step aside. I have never been happy with the status quo and feel a fresh vision and new direction is needed for the next decade.

When reached for comment, RCMP Inspector Reg Burgess stated that “we are losing one of our leaders in community policing and are sad to see him leave, however, we’re very happy to be able to use his past expertise and substantial skills in the Identification Unit. We look forward to his new association.” Vernon’s Mayor, Wayne Lippert, also paid tribute to Terry’s leadership. “Terry has been an inspiration to his staff and his community, and we will miss him in this capacity. We wish him well in his new position, but knowing Terry, I know he’ll bring the same energy and exceptional commitment to this new challenge. We congratulate him on a job well done!”

Moving to part-time employment with the Vernon’s RCMP, Terry will take on duties in the Forensic Identification Unit on November 9, 2009.
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Peter McIntyre Thursday, 03 September 2009 16:16 107.5 KISSFM:

The long time manager of the Vernon RCMP's Safe Communities Unit, is leaving the position to get back into police work.Terry Pakenham has managed the unit since it opened in 1999 and feels it has contributed to reducing crime."This is a team effort. It's not just uniquely my staff and my 100 plus volunteers. It's the RCMP, the social agencies, the non profits, municipal council, the business community. It's everybody working together on a common cause."Pakenham will take up part time work with the local RCMP's Forensic Identification Unit in November.

"I'm kind of revisiting where I came from. When I first came to Vernon in 1990 I was attached to the Vernon Forensic Identification section with the RCMP, and I'm going back there in the capacity of an assistant."Pakenham, who ended a 25 year police career ten years ago, says he will help process information from crime scenes.