Jack retired a number of years ago as assistant police chief and settled in the Cariboo to ride horses and guide hunters.
He began his law enforcement career in Winnipeg with the RCMP but tired of the winters, tried unsuccessfully to be transferred to the west coast, so joined the West Vancouver Police Department.
Over the years Jack shared many stories of life in uniform.
He recalled being the duty Sgt. one night when a constable was attempting to handcuff a drunk. Jack got up from his desk, walked over to the inebriated, punched him once, the guy dropped, the constable cuffed him, Jack returned to his desk.
The following is an excerpt from retired detective Stuart Leishman.
"Some of the most important tutelage of Leishman’s career came from Jack Ross.
Ross, a sergeant at the time, took the 140-pound rookie on a call to Horseshoe Bay to deal with motorcycle gang the 101 Knights, Leishman writes.
They got to the terminal and found: “20 hairy leather clad goons gathered around their Harley Davidsons” and another half-dozen racing motorcycles in the parking lot, he recalls.
Ross confronted the leader of the pack. At the time, Horseshoe Bay was a dead spot in terms of radio contact with the police office, Leishman writes. Leishman also notes that every other officer on duty at the time was tied up executing a search warrant at a Marine Drive hotel.
The two cops were on their lonesome.
Ross, nonetheless, told the bikers they had a group of officers waiting at the top of the hill and that if the bikers didn’t settle down: “We would kick some ass!”
It worked.
“They settled down and meekly waited in line until the ferry left,” Leishman writes.
Driving back to the station, Ross explained his take on psychological warfare, (slightly edited for the newspaper): BS baffles brains.
It was a credo Leishman took to heart."
https://www.nsnews.com/living/former-west-van-cop-recounts-life-behind-the-badge-in-new-book-3099216
I didn't know Jack personally but his friends shared so many photos of Jack, Gloria and their friends partying, I feel they too were my friends.
I recall one photo of Jack as he entered Jonathan and Judy's doorway. I could see why just his mere presence could terrify a suspect into a peaceful arrest. He filled the opening. You couldn't squeeze by him if you were rushing to the bathroom!
There were several occasions when police officers would accept the open invitation to join the group for Thanksgiving, Christmas or any other occasion to drop in while on duty for their meal. One Mountie who is now an Inspector was Jack's size and when both of them were in a room together, their presence was definitely noticeable.
Great times Jack and Gloria. Thanks for sharing your memories and good times with so many you didn't know personally.