Coaldale RCMP Staff Sgt. Glenn Henry. (Supplied by Glenn Henry)

By David Opinko

Glenn Henry, Coaldale RCMP’s Staff Sgt., retiring after 35 years

Jun 1, 2021 | 12:09 PM

COALDALE, AB – A prominent member of local law enforcement is hanging up his boots and entering retirement.

Glenn Henry’s last day as the Staff Sergeant of Coaldale RCMP is Wednesday, June 2.

One of his favourite things about his career with RCMP has been the ability to travel and see different parts of the country.

He started his career 35 years ago in Saskatchewan then headed north to Yellowknife, Yukon, and Hay River, Northwest Territories.

“In 2001, I was selected to go on a U.N. mission to Kosovo, which was a very humbling experience and one I’ll never forget. It makes you really appreciate our country and for the values we have.”

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After his one-year mission overseas, Henry came back to Alberta to work in Edson, Red Deer, and Chestermere.

In 2016, the RCMP assumed the contract for municipal policing in Coaldale. Henry became the town’s first RCMP detachment commander and helped to set up everything from their town office location, procuring vehicles, and hiring more staff.

While he has made many connections and had great moments throughout his career in many different postings, he says his time in Coaldale has been truly special for himself and his family.

“We’re very happy to be here. My wife and I are going to plan to settle in this area. We came down here, we asked to come down here, we applied to come down here, we’re happy to be here, and we’ve had a great experience here. No regrets.”

“I think just time to maybe focus on family and decompress a bit from some of the pressures of policing over the years. I think it’s been said a number of times, we don’t know how much pressure and stress we’re under until we leave our post. Maybe it’s a good thing for me to leave now while I still have my health and decompress for a bit and focus on a different chapter of my life.”

The announcement of Henry’s retirement comes as Coaldale’s new RCMP detachment is set to open later this year.

Sgt. Kevin Wright from Raymond RCMP will take over as the interim detachment commander for both Coaldale and Picture Butte.

It will likely still be at least a few months before Henry’s permanent replacement is named.