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Exeter Times–Advocate
3
RCMP career takes officer around the world
By Pat Bolen
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF
HENSALL — When he joined the Royal
Canadian Mounted Police in April 1974
with a spirit of adventure, David Beer
had no idea how far that spirit of adven-
ture would eventually take him.
And after 31 years, Beer has done just
about every job the RCMP offers, plus a
few it never used to offer.
Back in the area for a few days last
week before taking up a new assignment,
Beer was in Hensall speaking at the
Legion Friday night.
Beer was born in Blyth and his father
was from Hensall, and after living, work-
ing and both playing and coaching hock-
ey, including the Exeter Hawks, Beer
joined the RCMP.
After recruit school in Regina, Beer's
first posting was in Coquitlam, BC.
I enjoyed it from the outset," said Beer.
"I never got bored of any of it."
From general uniform duties, to traffic,
drug work and tactical operations, Beer's
career took him through many of the cir-
cles of the RCMP.
After working in counter terrorist oper-
ations which were turned over to the
Canadian military in 1993, Beer moved
into criminal intelligence operations.
He was posted to Haiti in 1996 as part
of the Justice Development program run
by the Canadian Government.
After another tour back in Canada
when he was in charge of the Windsor
RCMP detachment, Beer's career contin-
ued to take him overseas.
Back in Haiti in1998, he expanded the
program started in 1996, following a trip
to the Central African Republic in 1997.
On his return to Canada, Beer was in
charge of the Proceeds of Crime/Money
David Beer, who grew up around
Hensall and has been a member of
the Royal Canadian Mounted
Police for over 30 years, was back
home for a few days last week
before starting his new job as
Director General of International
Policing. (photo/Pat Bolen)
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laundering branch in Ottawa before tak-
ing charge of the Toronto area detach-
ment in 2002.
The 2003 Iraq invasion again led him
overseas when he worked with the coali-
tion provisional authority as senior police
advisor to the Iraqi Minister of the
Interior.
Beer's career shows no sign of slowing
down since his return from Iraq, with
another trip to Haiti before taking up his
most recent posting.
Beer is now back in Ottawa as Director
General of International Policing and is
looking forward to spending some time at
home.
Among his varied experiences, Beer
said every place is special, but his recent
experiences in Iraq have been among the
most interesting.
"Seeing military encampments in
Babylon is a strange experience," says
Beer.
Among his disappointments has been
Haiti, where the country has slipped
backwards from where it was.
According to Beer, the international
community didn't stay long enough for
firm footings to take hold.
Although 200 years ago Haiti was "the
plum of the French empire," according to
Beer, it has been destroyed and its
resources are gone. "It will have to be
completely redone," he says.
Beer was in Iraq at the end of the inva-
sion and saw the euphoria that swept the
country.
The country is still dangerous, "you did-
n't know who you were fighting," and
progress is slow.
Beer said the country has still managed
to have an election and form a constitu-
tion.
"It's a feat, but it will take time...the will
of the people reflects progress."
Threats Beer will be trying to deal with
in the future are the crossover of orga-
nized crime and terrorism in places like
Africa and Bosnia.
"I'm always happy to get back to
Canada," says Beer, who has two grand-
daughters he is looking forward to
spending some time with.
One of the dangers of his job is the frus-
tration of not seeing progress or of seeing
countries slip back, of which Haiti was a
frustrating example.
"They were well on their way," says
Beer of Haiti. "There was more money
than was needed but no political
will...then other priorities popped up."
The Canadian approach is usually well
received, according to Beer, who added
he would have liked to serve in Europe,
although he enjoyed his time in the
Middle East and is disturbed by what is
happening in Jordan. "It's a wonderful
place," he says.
"I'm very fortunate, says Beer. "I've got
more than I wanted and have no
regrets."
One of the biggest changes he has seen
in his career are advances in technology
that have made it harder for police to do
their job.
The criminals, according to Beer, have
the initiative when it comes to getting
new technology.
"As soon as you catch up, they find a
way to improve...it's a dynamic part of
the work."
With 35 years in the RCMP his career
goal, Beer is looking at possibly writing a
book when he retires.
But for now he is focused on his new
job and the primary threat Canada is fac-
ing, which is terrorism.
"It's not whether, but when," says Beer.
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