RCMP leader

WORKLIFE | CAREER PROFILE

WEARE-ING THE RED SERGE

STORY BY STACIE GAETZ | PHOTO BY CARL PATZEL

Insp. Lauren Weare isn’t one to let obstacles stand in her way.

She has been an RCMP officer for 34 years and started her role as the Airdrie RCMP Officer in Charge in August 2020. She now leads 86 RCMP officers who patrol Airdrie and Beiseker, but it didn’t come easily.

Weare realized she wanted to be a police officer in high school when she was inspired by a presentation from a female officer during a career fair.

“I hope that I may have some influence for women to consider the

RCMP as a career,” she says.

“There are many roles and duties within the RCMP that provide diversity in job functions, with many women … leading, guiding and directing operations in their respective units. I am a proud member of the RCMP, and the opportunities afforded for women to make a difference in our organization are significant.”

When she decided to pursue policing as a career she ran into a roadblock.

Weare is 5’4” tall and the RCMP height requirement was 5’6” so she took a different career path.

As soon as the height restriction changed, she applied for the RCMP and got in, allowing her high school dream to come true.

Before becoming Airdrie’s top cop, Weare was working as part of the Southern Alberta District with a focus on rural crime and then as part of the COVID-19 response team when the pandemic hit in

March 2020.

She has also worked in Bonnyville and Cochrane in Alberta, and

Williams Lake, Smithers, Terrace, Prince George, Alexis Creek,

Anahim Lake and Williams Lake in B.C.

What does she like most about the role of a police officer? Contributing to community safety and providing a public service, says Weare.

“I have established friendships with people in all the communities I have served. I consider myself very lucky to have a job where mobility is welcomed,” she says.

Weare is not the first female to lead the Airdrie RCMP; she takes over the position from Insp. Kimberley Pasloske, who went to work for the RCMP’s F Division in Saskatchewan.

Weare says she brings experience as a commander in small, medium and large detachments and a strong desire to provide the city of Airdrie and the rural communities who fall under her areas of responsibility the best policing service possible. She lists her top priorities as a commander as community engagement, crime reduction and road safety. “I enjoy working with community leaders, to understand community concerns in an effort to provide a policing response that addresses the concerns,” says Weare. “One of the favourite things I enjoy is having the opportunity for in-person meetings or visits with the community, in particular supporting community events.” Weare adds one of the initiatives that she is the proudest of is Mochas with Mounties, which has been in operation for two years. The program was initially created as an in-person event held at various local coffee shops to create an opportunity for the RCMP members to interact with the public informally by providing opportunity for people to ask questions. With the pandemic, the initiative has shifted to a virtual form with online videos that can be viewed on the City of Airdrie Facebook page.

“This platform allows for connectivity with community members in a manner that provides opportunity for information sharing for all participants,” says Weare.

“Additionally, it demonstrates the genuine interest the Airdrie RCMP has for positive engagement with the community and the public.” life