Inspector C. Clark Takes Command

YOUNGEST OF THE FORCE’S executive officers, Inspector
Cecil Clark early this year took command of “E” Division with
headquarters at Vancouver. The division comprises the lower
mainland, exclusive of the City of Vancouver, and the munici-
palities of West Vancouver, Surrey and Port Moody. It extends
from the Caribou Canyon to Point Grey and includes a good
deal of the coast around the Gulf of Georgia. In point of view
of population and number of municipalities policed, it is by far
the most important of the five divisions and two subdivisions
that go to make up the administrative jurisdiction of the force.

Although still a comparatively young man, Inspector Clark
is one of the old timers in the service, and it was a singular
tribute to his cap-
abilities that he was
chosen by the Com-

missioner for this
important com-
mand.

Inspector Clark
joined the force in
August, 1916 as a
junior clerk, and
during the past 31
years he has stead-
ily risen. He was
promoted Sub-In-
spector in 1937. As
his work at head-
quarters assumed
larger proportions
he was promoted to
full Inspector in
1941.

From the outset
of his police career
his remarkable
memory and flair
for detail won him
recognition.
Coupled with these
attributes has been
an intense interest
in things new and
progressive. While
a constable in 1920,
he was a proponent
of motorized high-
way patrol—before
the force owned a
single motor ve-
hicle. His efforts
brought forth the
first motorcycle j
patrol, forerunner of today’s “white vans”.

As time went by and the activities of the force increased, a
young and aggressive man was needed to look after certain ad-
ministrative phases at Headquarters. Inspector Clark, function-
ing as secretary to the Commissioner, was the choice. He de-
voted his attention to personnel and by formulating new enlist-
ment standards made a progressive contribution to the advance-
ment of the B. C. Police.

In 1928, a few members of the force applied themselves to
experiments in radiotelegraphy, to bring about better communi-
cation between the force’s far flung posts. Mr. Clark immedi-
ately supported their efforts and followed every experiment

SEVENTEENTH EDITION

Inspector C. Clark

of “E’ Division

with the greatest interest. He mastered the continental code in
record time to take an active part in the operation of the first
transmitters. The radio telegraph net that followed is history—
the first point-to-point police radio net on the continent.

When Const. (now Det.-Sergt.) J. A. Young joined the ser-
vice some years ago, his outstanding ability as a pistol marksman
made him the natural choice as the force’s instructor—and the
innovation quickly caught Inspector Clark’s attention. Out he
had to go with the first Tyros to score a low total of 93 out of
a possible 300 on the police course. But within 12 months of
receiving his first instruction he shot over 290 on the same
course! Impressed with the accuracy that can be developed he
has been a sound
supporter ofa
better standard of
marksmanship
throughout the
force. The trained
shot, reasons the ©
Inspector, can often
“stop” or disable a
man without fatal
results and there is
fess chance of the
innocent bystander
being struck by fly-
ing lead.

The markman-
ship programme
owes much to In-
spector Clark; for
10 or 15 years ago
only a handful of
men had any accur-
acy with the pistol.
Today, half the men

on the force can
qualify with a 66%
score over the

standard course. In-
terest among the
police aroused civil-
ian interest until to-
day there are prob-
ably more pistol de-
votees in B. C. than
in any other Prov-
ince in Canada.
Tirelessly Inspector
Clark has encour-
aged the posting of
trophies and awards
and still had time to
guide the activities of the B. C. Police Revolver Club at Vic-
toria. This club now in its eleventh year, is one of the most
flourishing on the coast. Eighty members were on its roster
last year. When he left Victoria on transfer, club members
presented Mr. Clark with a handsome travelling bag as a token
of their appreciation of his work.

Never at a loss for a hobby and with his insatiable curiosity
for things outside police circles, Inspector Clark has poked into
many rural parts of Oregon, Washington and California by
motorcycle and car, and as a power boat enthusiast found new
interests along the coast. He is a prodigious reader of non-
fiction and reads a book, often two, in an evening. His phen-

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