Staff Sgt. Dereck Eberle began working at the La Ronge RCMP detachment on Jan. 29. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

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The new detachment commander for the La Ronge RCMP comes with 21 years of experience with the force.

Staff Sgt. Dereck Eberle officially joined the detachment on Jan. 29, replacing Staff Sgt. Dean Bridle who arrived in La Ronge in August 2020 and left for Regina to take on another role as a risk reviewer with the RCMP’s Criminal Operations Unit.

Eberle also comes from Regina where he was the sergeant in charge of the Regina Integrated Intelligence Unit. The majority of his experience comes from a federal policing background with time being spent with the Federal Serious and Organized Crime Unit as well.

“That’s just like our intel program, so we are dealing with confidential informants and collecting intelligence, looking for our next big target for our federal enforcement unit,” Eberle said.

“I’ve been up here for work. I have been in La Ronge as part of the emergency response team. I’ve been up here with VIP visits. The last time Mr. Trudeau was here, I was out for that because that’s part of federal’s role is we do the VIP security.”

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During his time with the RCMP, Eberle also served in the Battlefords and he expects his time in La Ronge will be similar to that. He explained the workload is very comparable from member to member in La Ronge to the Battlefords. Eberle added much of the calls are similar in nature and he expects those in La Ronge will stem from addictions and drug abuse.

While in Regina and the Battlefords, Eberle was able to launch a program with local junior hockey teams to educate players, and ultimately the public, on the cause and effects of addictions and drugs in a community. He’d like to bring that program to La Ronge as well, and he’s already reached out to Ice Wolves Head Coach Kevin Kaminski about forming a partnership.

“[We] took them out to Vancouver for an experience they probably have never forgotten, where we toured the Eastside and exposed them to the addictions and the problems of addictions, and they get an opportunity to interact with addicts to get their stories,” Eberle said.

“We would bring that experience back with the hockey players and we would do school presentations.”

Eberle mentioned he is both excited and nervous to come to La Ronge. He said whenever someone starts a new position, it’s always a bit overwhelming, but he stated he’s a hard worker and interested in learning. Eberle has already met with local councils and he believes they have a positive outlook for the RCMP, which he said is pleasant to see.

During his time in La Ronge, Eberle is looking forward to boating and fishing opportunities. He is also looking forward to spending time with his son, who is currently a constable with the detachment.

“My son is posted here, so I thought before I retire, it would be interesting to say I worked with him in the organization,” he said. “Obviously for me, this was a promotion and I’m looking for a little bit of a challenge.”

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com