THE SCARLET SENTINELS spans a period of one year at a large Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) detachment in the Interior region of British Columbia. Although written as a novel, this story accurately reflects the kinds of events that typically occur in the police world, presented graphically and in the lingua franca that is particular to this work. Readers will enter the lives of members of this famous police force at the detachment level, learning how they operate in, and adapt to, continual challenge and change.
Author John C. Smith draws on his experience as a detachment watch commander to illustrate the complexities of police work - the tragic, sad, happy and sometimes satisfying events that are experienced by members of the Force, in their efforts to provide professional police service to Canadians.
Past and current members of the Force may well recognize a part of themselves and others, in this narrative, although it should be considered a work of fiction and all characters are composites of many individuals known to the author and his imagination.
John C. Smith was a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police for twenty-five years. He served at six different police posts in British Columbia and was an instructor at the Canadian Police College, Ottawa. Much of his service was performed in what is called "General Duty" policing, where most law enforcement is carried out. He currently lives in Victoria, BC, with his wife, Jean, where he's writing his second novel - a police procedural set on a cruise ship out on the high seas.
"John has accurately captured the life of general duty policing which reflects 99% routine and 1% adrenalin-rush, inter-mixed with the emotional realities of being human. Anyone considering a career in the Force should read this book." -- Tom Rippon, PhD (& dismounted Member)