Unit manager takes over from pal

Roger Knox - Vernon Morning Star Published: November 21, 2009 12:00 PM

Replacing Terry Pakenham is becoming old hat for Ewen Harvie. Twenty-five years ago as a young RCMP officer, Harvie moved from his posting in the Northwest Territories to replace Pakenham at the Terrace detachment. Now, after Pakenham stepped down in September after 10 years at the helm of the City of Vernon RCMP Safe Communities Unit, Harvie has been named his successor. “Terry and I worked together in Terrace, and we’ve come around full-circle 25 years later,” smiled Harvie, introducing himself to the local media as the new safe communities unit manager. “The fact we know each other is a benefit to the community. Terry and I have an idea of how we work together, and I have some better feedback of what’s happening in the community.”

Harvie brings with him a 28-year law enforcement career that saw him stationed in B.C., Alberta and the Northwest Territories, including two Okanagan stints totalling nine years of service. In the RCMP, Harvie was a detachment commander, lived on reserve, was a media relations officer, handled mediations and negotiations, did traffic duties and even served as a motorcycle cop. His primary role in succeeding Pakenham is to build on the success of the program established by his longtime friend. “The community here is very lucky as there’s a very vested interest in community policing,” said Harvie. “Terry worked many hours beyond the call of duty. There’s a great volunteer base here of more than 110 volunteers, and a number of great programs such as Crime Stoppers, Citizens On Patrol, Speed Watch and Neighbourhood Watch. “What’s based here now is a great program, and I’m just going to build on it.” Only three weeks into the position, Harvie said he has yet to set any goals. “My goals are what the community’s goals are,” he said. “I plan to talk with all the stakeholders and get their feedback. Once I talk to all the groups, we’ll start to build our goals.”