HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 2009-05-27, Page 15Goderich Siqnai5tar, Wednesday, May 27, 2009 - Page A15
Livesey closes the book on crime -.fighting career
Gerard Creoles
signal -star stall.
For thirty-two and a half years, constable
Richard Livesey has been keeping people safe
as a member of the Goderich Police, the Air
Cadets and the Huron Ontario Provincial Po-
lice.
Livesey began his career in uniform in
1972, as a member of the police auxiliary in
Woodstock and five years later, became a full-
fledged member of the Goderich Police.
"I was always interested in the military,"
said the Canadian Forces auxiliary member.
'The OPP presented an avenue to get into uni-
form and do something for my country."
Under then -chief Pat King, Livesey was
sworn -in on his first day of police service in
Goderich - January 22, 1977 - and put on pa-
trol with officer George Lands.
"It was good," he said. "The transition from
being an auxiliary officer.
"It felt good for a dream to come true."
One of the first things he did when com-
ing to town, he said, was buy a copy of the
Signal -Star and look up the houses for sale in
the classified ads.
"I'd take that and find my way around
town," he said. "I Teamed the town like the
back of my hand."
He said he enjoyed coming to Goderich be-
cause it was a nice area and the tourist season
meant there was never a lack of things to do.
That also meant no lack of people to protect
and over the course of his career, there were
many changes to law enforcement Livesey
said the force adapted to.
"The Charter of Rights, the Young Offend-
ers Act changed several times, the liquor li-
cence act..." he said.
The retiring officer said he's done pretty
much everything over his time on the force,
including a hostage situation at the post office
in the 1970s and much more recently, serving
at the standoff site in Caledonia.
In Caledonia, he said he got to know many
Photo contributed
Livesey, above, has received the Canadian
Forces decoration and bar, the Canadian
Exemplary Police Service medal and bar
and the Queen's Golden Jubilee medal,
as well as an OPP Accolade award
throughout his policing career.
good people on both sides of the issue, as
well as meet fellow officers dispatched to the
scene.
There are many times when tragedy strikes,
Livesey said, and while they are the hardest
times on the job, they are also the times when
officers are most needed.
"You see things no person should ever have
to see," he said. "Death notifications... going
up to the door.
"It's tough on an officer."
Livesey credits his wife, Lori - also in law
enforcement - with making his career possi-
ble, Family support, he said, is extremely im-
portant for officers, and his was exceptional.
"You go to a major occurrence and then
come home. You've got to be supported at
home," he said. "(Lori) is a good partner. She
sees the proplems and offers help."
He said officers also help fill that support
role, calling it a brotherhood and sisterhood,
who look after each other when situations get
tough.
He has three children, Brian, Karen and Jeff,
and a step -son Mike. Livesey is also the proud
grandfather of Emmet and Madison.
When not serving in a policeman's uniform,
Livesey also serves as a reserve officer with
the Canadian Forces.
Since 1979, he has been involved with the
532 Maitland Squadron of the Royal Cana-
dian Air Cadets.
The similarities between military and police
work, he said, stretch far beyond the uniform.
"We're all in the same business together," he
said. "We are all here for some common good
- the protection of the citizens of Ontario.
For many years, Livesey has been the bus
driver for the Special Olympics torch run, and
enjoys his work with youth.
As a member of the armed forces, he said
he's seen a lot of kids over the years take guid-
ance and encouragement from their time on
the squadron and he plans to devote more time
to the Cadets now that he's retiring.
"Gotta keep busy," he said. "You can't just
quit work cold turkey"
He also has plans to do more volunteer work
in the community.
Livesey said it has been an honour to work
under Huron Detachment's commander Dan
Grant and staff sergeant Shawn Johnson,
as well as Paul Bradly, Perry Tichert and all
the non-commissioned officers at the Huron
OPP.
Naturalist expertise needed for inventory
The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) signed projects ensure that volunteers' time with NCC's volunteer events, please visit the
is looking for volunteers with local naturalist is dedicated to critical conservation action. To Conservation Volunteers web site at www.
knowledge to help complete a biological in- find out more about how to become involved conservationvolunteers.ca.
ventory of a newly protected conservation re-
serve within the Lower Maitland River Valley
Natural Area. This Conservation Volunteers
event takes place on Saturday, May 30 from
8:30 a.m. until 5:00. p.m. Plant and animal
identification skills are needed.
This latest reserve includes almost 174
acres (70 hectares) of forested land and over 1
km of river shoreline. Located near Holmes-
ville and containing a portion of the Maitland
Trail, very little is known about what animals
and plants inhabit the site's forest and wetland
systems. It is suspected that the reserve is fre-
quented by the threatened Queen Snake as
well as forest birds like Wood Thrush, Phila-
delphia Vireo and Pileated Woodpecker. NCC
is seeking the expertise of local naturalists to
help build a complete picture of the diversity
of this remarkable new nature reserve.
To register for this event please visit www.
conservationvolunteers.ca and look for Ontar-
io under the Volunteer tab, or call John Ger-
rath at 1-877-343-3532, extension 230. • •
NCC's Conservation Volunteers program
engages people in the protection of Canada's
biodiversity while providing a meaningful,
hands-on educational experience in ecoldgi-
ally significant natural areas. Carefully d�-
hs-��i.f
� fs.
Make
MORE.
with
Exteri
'1ForOur FREE
H :><%;:k.
e' -consultation
Paul &1 I& 1a Ginty
519-1524s5773
NON -DENOMINATIONAL
WEDDINGS
CHRISTENINGS
Your Location or •urs
Rev. Chris Morgan
Pastor Paula Morgan
519-524-5724
lCLICK COMPUTER
REV. CHRIS MORGAN
SHEAR
TALENT
Noir Do*
rung,
for men & women
45 West Street
GODERICH
— Please call —
Melissa or Debbie D.
519-5246555
Walk-ins Welcome!
ARE YOU
RECOVERY
READY?
• Maximize the Full Potential
of Your Portfolio
Turbulent markets have histori-
cally led to financial opportunities.
While we don't know exactly when
the market will recover, we believe
it eventually will. The question is,
will you be ready?
Join us for this educational semi-
nar and learn why now may be the
best opportunity in years to upgrade
your portfolio.
Date: Thursday, 4 June, 2009
Time: 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Location: Huron County Museum
110 North St., Goderich
RSVP:Jillian Bender at
519-524-4873
Erin J Roy
Financial Advisor
108 Court House Square
Goderich, ON N7A 1M7
519-524-4873
www.edwardjones.com/myrecovery
Member CIPF
EdwardJones
MAKING SENSE OF INVESTING