AMHERST – After several years with the Cumberland County RCMP, Const. Dal Hutchinson is moving on. Hutchinson will be working out of Bible Hill.
Hutchinson said after coming into community policing he was ready for a change.
“I thought you know what, this is a great opportunity to develop some new skills and create some new programs that they don’t have,” he said about the new job. “A Monday to Friday job, I’ve never had that, I’ve only done shift work, and I was willing to try it.”
Hutchinson spent the last three years working with the RCMP in Cumberland County. He said he felt like he had reached a point where he had achieved a lot and it was time to move on, back into general duties and investigations.
“That’s basically first responder calls and doing investigations,” he said. “I’m ready to go back. I’m 45 years-old, my health is good right now and I want to get back out on the road and help people and deal with the bad guys while I can still do it.”
The decision to move on wasn’t an easy one, Hutchinson admitted. He said there will be a lot about the position he’s giving up that he is going to miss.
“I’m going to miss the people. One of the great things about this position is that you work with a varied group of people, I’m not confined to one area,” he said. “I’m going to miss the people on the different volunteer groups that I work with, like MADD and Crime Stoppers. I’m going to miss the schools. I’ve built some pretty good relationships with the schools, the staff and the students.”
Hutchinson said he feels as though he’s helped put the RCMP in a positive light with youth in the area.
“It’s always a good feeling when I drive through communities, let’s say River Hebert and Joggins, because those are schools that I’ve visited regularly here,” he said. “When you pull over a vehicle to deal with something and you hear kids yelling your name, that’s a good feeling, knowing they’re not afraid of you and that you’re there to help.”
The county, Hutchinson said, has been very supportive since he joined the area’s RCMP. He said they’ve been great at embracing some of the programs he and the RCMP endorsed.
“I also want to say thank you for the overall respect,” he said. “You hear a lot of negatives about policing, but I got to say that here in Cumberland County, overall, people are quite respectful of the RCMP and the job we’re trying to do.”
Hutchinson is finishing up his final week this week.
For a special video from Const. Hutchinson, visit cumberlandnewsnow.com
jturner@amherstdaily.com
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