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

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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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