S/Sgt. Scott Buchanan is a familiar face at the Cold Lake RCMP detachment.
"I'm very pleased to be back," Buchanan expressed, adding he only left because "duty called."
Filling the shoes of Cold Lake's former S/Sgt. Jeremie Landry, Buchanan started on the job late October.
Growing up outside of Regina, SK, Buchanan said the RCMP made quite an impression on him.
"It started when I was six-years-old. The RCMP rescued me from a locked trunk," Buchanan recalled.
When he decided to become a police officer, he chose the RCMP because of his history with the force.
Buchanan has been a member for 22 years, and has had 11 postings during that time. He first came to Cold Lake in 2003 as a constable, before leaving for 10 years. He came back in 2013 as staff sergeant, and was in that position just over a year when he was called away.
"I never wanted to leave. What happened was... the district needed me to go and work from St. Paul in a larger supervisory role," detailed Buchanan.
After receiving a transfer to Edmonton in the review services department, he had his sights set on coming back to Cold Lake.
Anytime he was posted in the area, his wife held the position of health promotion manager at 4 Wing Cold Lake.
"It was always part of the plan. I wanted to try to get back to Cold Lake so she could keep her dream job and I could have my dream job," he noted.
It's the area and the people that make the position the perfect fit for Buchanan. He said there were other staff sergeant positions he would have turned down.
"The detachment here is really good. The members are excellent, the support staff is really good, and the Victim Services program is strong," he detailed.
As someone from a small town, Buchanan enjoys everything Cold Lake has to offer.
"The community is progressive, and I see a lot of potential. Even for our kids, who are grown adults now... I like the outdoor lifestyle, mainly the boating and fishing," he noted, adding his eldest son also works at the air force base, while his younger is in the military, currently stationed at CFB Borden in Ontario, with hopes of coming to Cold Lake.
Looking ahead, Buchanan hopes to continue the momentum Landry started.
"The focus, first and foremost for me, is employee wellness and well-being, but that's in-house. Outside of the detachment, focusing on crime reduction and client services is also my primary focus."
Cold Lake's recent appearance in Macleans magazine's “Canada’s Most Dangerous Places” hasn't deterred Buchanan from wanting to live in the area, noting the city's top 10 spot is the result of good police work.
"I wouldn't be excited about bringing my family to one of the top crime towns in Canada. It's a safe city... I'm not worried about moving here with my family."
