NOW STAFF-SERGEANT

aE many friends of Sergt. A. (“Andy”)
Fairbairn, popular N.C.O. in charge of
Courtenay Police district, will be pleased
__ to hear of his pro-
motion to Staff
Sergt.

The promotion
entails a move to

Kamloops, where
- Andy will take over
as senior N.C.O. in
“C” Division.

Serget. Fairbairn
leaves a host of
friends and well-

wishers behind him
on Vancouver Is-
land. We all join
in wishing him good
luck and success in
his new assignment.
_ “Andy” was born in Scotland in 1887;
was with the C.P.R. Police in Vancouver
in 1911 and 1912, which force he left in
March, 1912, to join the B. C. Provincial
~ Police.

His first detachment was at Decker Lake
in 1914; in 1917 he was transferred to
~Telkwa, where he remained until 1929,
when he was moved to Smithers with the
rank of Corporal. In 1930 he was pro-
_moted to the rank of Sergeant; in 1934
was transferred to Cranbrook; in January,
1938 to Grand Forks, and in 1940, to
Courtenay.

A. Fairbairn

PROMOTION FOR CONSTABLE

2 _ BRUNTON
_ AFTER seven years in the Agassiz-Chilli-
wack area, Const. T. D. Brunton, one of
the successful candidates at a recent corpor-
als’ examination, has been promoted to
_ corporal and placed in charge of the Queen
Charlotte District. Since the outbreak of
war this area has assumed increasing im-
portance and Corpl. Brunton can be justi-
fiably proud that he has been selected to
take charge of this district. He is no
Stranger to the Queen Charlottes, for he
- was stationed at Massett in 1933 and 1934.
A veteran of the last war (Argyle and
_ Sutherland Highlanders and 53rd Gordons),
Corpl. Brunton came to the B. C. Police
when the Fernie City Police was absorbed
in 1931.

Police Radio Plays Important
Part in War Time

OUR COVER picture this issue shows
Senior Radio Operator Brian Weld of
Headquarters Radio Branch at his post,
and is a timely reminder of the part radio
is playing in B. C.’s wartime effort.

Established 14 years ago, today the force’s
network of 22 shortwave stations strategi-
cally dotted throughout British Columbia’s
370,000 square miles of territory, serves to
co-ordinate and expedite the wartime activi-
ties: of Canada’s oldest police force.

Valuable in peace time, it is doubly so
now that our coastal area fronts on the
Pacific theatre of operations.

The history of B. C.’s radio net is an
interesting one and dates back to 1928
when enthusiasts on the force conducted
experiments to prove the distance annihil-
ating qualities of shortwave radio and its
value in police work. Stations were estab-

A police portable radio transmitter and receiver.
The map of the province shows the radio stations,

and the Stetson hat shows the size of the set by
comparison.

lished in June, 1929 and over the years
the system has expanded until today a
million words a year are flashed back and
forth across the network.

With every reason to be proud of their
pioneering spirit (the innovation was the
first of its kind in North America and is
still alone in the Canadian field) those asso-
ciated with the radio section have kept
pace with every technical advance. Radio
maintenance is centred at the headquarters
workshops where Chief Operator W. F.

Conlan has for many years been in charge
of all construction. At first, all equipment
was built in the police shops, but latterly
only transmitters are manufactured there,
receivers being standard products.

Apart from economy, police-built equip-
ment has the added advantage of being
suited to special requirements and condi-
tions. This was exemplified in the portable
units designed and built by Mr. Conlan
some years ago. These 40-pound units are
self contained radio stations, comprising
transmitter, receiver, aerials, headphones
and power supply. Even message pads and
pencils are included. Resembling in out-
ward appearance a neat small valise, they
can be put into operation in a few minutes
and are capable of spanning 800 miles.

Since its inception the B. C. Police radio

When in Vernon
Stop at the

NATIONAL CAFE

SODA FOUNTAIN and HOME-MADE
CANDIES - CIGARS - TOBACCOS

VERNON, B.C.

Licensed Hide Dealer

We Buy Hides and
Sheep Skins.

We Sell Men’s Shoes
and All Types of
‘Men’s Work Clothing.

I. V. SAUDER

Vernon
British Columbia

“K Home Away from Home”

VERNON BAKERY

ially for Families ; e
Especially Joe Strasman, Proprietor

When in Kamloops Make Your

Headquarters Quality Bread, Fresh Daily

Superior Cakes and Pastries

THE CENTRAL HOTEL

Mr. and Mrs. T. Bral, Proprietors
(Opposite C. P. R. Depot)

KAMLOOPS, B. C.

Barnard Avenue West

VERNON, BRITISH COLUMBIA -

norte Page Sixty-nine
WINTER EDITION :