Fort Simpson (July 14/06) - The Fort Simpson RCMP detachment both gained and lost members on July 4.

Community members packed the RCMP mess during the lunch hour to bid farewell to Cpl. Al Shepherd, Const. Brad Parker and their families.

"We only pick the very best of the best members to come up here," Supt. Rick Roy, criminal operations officer for the Northwest Territories told the crowd.

Both Shepherd and Parker were presented with plaques to commemorate their service. Shepherd along with Sgt. Cliff McKay were also given letters of recognition for their assistance in mediation during the resignation of the volunteer fire department.

"I'll miss the people, the scenery and the pace of life," Shepherd said about moving.

He also said he enjoyed the challenge of running the detachment for a year. He served in Fort Simpson for just over three years. Before coming to the village he spent five years in Alberta followed by nine months in Tuktoyaktuk.

He is moving to Halifax where he will work in the proceeds of crime division.

"It's sad to see him go," said elder Leo Norwegian who was at the send off.

Shepherd was fair with everyone and did a good job, Norwegian said.

Const. Brad Parker is also leaving Fort Simpson after almost three years for Hay River. "I'll miss the quietness and the friendliness of the town and the uniqueness of the whole community on the island," Parker said.

He said he enjoyed the local scenery and the feeling that everyone is in tune with the surrounding nature.

Parker will be replaced by Const. Adolphus Norris from the Hay River detachment.

With Shepherd leaving, however, the detachment is temporarily losing a member, McKay said. Shepherd's position was transferred to Yellowknife where it was used to obtain a drug dog and handler, McKay said.

If the proposed reorganization of divisions occurs, a corporal position would be returned to Fort Simpson. McKay said he hopes to hear about the reorganization in September.

The mood at the mess was more celebratory earlier on July 4 when April Bell was sworn-in as an auxiliary constable.

Bell joins Troy Hardisty and Lee Cazon as the third auxiliary constable with the detachment.

For Bell, 25, volunteering with the RCMP is a trial period for deciding if she would like to join the force.

After starting work as a guard last June, Bell said she talked a lot with the members and decided the RCMP is a good career.

"They are a great group of guys who care about the community and have good intentions," she said.

Being the only female in the detachment doesn't bother Bell. "We get along really good. The guys here are very supportive and encourage me and share their experiences," Bell said.

As an auxiliary constable Bell will have to volunteer 16 hours a month. She will work side by side with the regular officers performing duties such as traffic control, protecting crime scenes, helping with arrests and travelling to communities.

Bell plans to fit her 16 hours in during the evening and weekends while still working as an administrative assistant with the Department of Transportation.

Auxiliary constables are an important part of the Fort Simpson team, McKay said.

"They really bridge a lot of gaps that we would have," he said.