FBOB” and No. 13

Inspector Robert Owens of “A” Division Not Superstitious i

About Number 13—Served Overseas with the C. E. F. and
Awarded the General Service and Victory Medals—Com-
pleted Twenty-six Years with the B. C. Police.

IT WOULD be very difficult to convey in
cold type the personality that is Inspector
Robert Owens, Officer Commanding “A”
Division, British Columbia Police. To his
legion of friends throughout British Colum-
bia and the United States he is known as
“Bob,” and it would be safe to wager that
on approaching almost any man, woman or
child in his Division with the query, “Do
you know ‘Bob’ Owens?” that the answer
would be in the affirmative and accom-
panied by a large grin. Having been sta-
tioned for 26 years on Vancouver Island,
broken only by military service during the
Great War, this genial officer embodies to
the general public their first thought when
something goes wrong and the Police are
needed. Whether it is a matter of vital
importance or merely Mrs. White’s cow in
Mrs. Brown’s pansy bed, invariably it is
“Bob” Owens that gets told about it, and
while as an Inspector he does not ride out
on the ordinary patrol as in former years—
he listens to complaints both large and small
and details the men under his command to
the best advantage.

Otp Time LACROSSE PLAYER

Born February 18, 1885, at Bangor,
County Down, Ireland, he emigrated to
Canada with his family at the age of 18
months. After residing in Toronto for
about two years the Owens family moved
to Victoria, B. C., at which point the future
policeman received his education. He was
(and still is) keenly interested in all sports,
and his early participation in such active
games as lacrosse and basketball no doubt
have some bearing on his present youthful
appearance. He was captain of the Vic-
toria lacrosse team in 1909, and also played
with the old “Cloverdale” basketball team
which won the Victoria and Vancouver
Island championship two years running.

Compliments of

THE BEVAN HOTEL

BEVAN, B.C.

OCTOBER, 1938

On the 27th of January, 1912,
he joined the British Columbia
Provincial Police. In April, 1916,
he received leave to enlist for ser-
vice with the Canadian Expedition-
ary Forces and went overseas with
the Canadian Field Artillery. Saw
general service in France, and re-
joined the Police in 1919. Is now
the holder of General Service,
Victory, and King George VI
Coronation medals.

TWENTY-SIX YEARS ON FORCE

On January 27, 1938, Inspector
Owens completed 26 years of ser-
vice with the B. C. Police, being
stationed in and about Victoria
for the whole duration, with the
exception of the break when over-
seas, and a short period in 1932
when relieving as O. C. “B” Divi
sion at Nelson in the Kootenays.
He was promoted to the rank of Ser-
geant in April, 1924, rose to Staft-
Sergeant in April, 1929, and in
September of 1931 received his com-
mission as Sub-Inspector. In No-
vember, 1932, the rank was ad-
vanced to that of Inspector.

During his recent years of service
Inspector Owens has worked on
many exciting and interesting
cases, among them being the
famous Beryl G hijacking and mur-
der case which involved “Cannonball”
Baker and Harry Myers, alias “Cy” Sowash.
This case arose during prohibition days,
and the Inspector followed- this incident
from inception to successful conclusion.
There was also the $42,000 robbery of the
Royal Bank of Canada at Nanaimo, B. C.,
which featured the notorious William Bag-

IT’S

boi

When DUTY is Discussed

It is ours to give the oublic the best

McGAVIN’S Good Bread

Inspector R. “Bob” Owens smiling, and with good reason.
Standing beside him is the one and only Shirley Temple,
who appears to be more accustomed to cameras than the

genial head of “A” Division.

ley (since hanged at San Quentin Peniten-
tiary), and the Hadsell hijacking case in
which Inspector Owens travelled to San
Francisco to carry out investigations and
arrest a suspect.

The Inspector takes great interest in the
present movement of the Department to
promote instruction in pistol and revolver

We Can produce.

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