After nearly four decades of patrolling Moose Jaw’s streets and investigating crime, police Supt. Brent Mackey has hung up his badge to focus on family and a long list of honey-do tasks.
Mackey joined officers for one final patrol at the end of February before strolling into retirement after 37.5 years with the Moose Jaw Police Service (MJPS).
“So far, so good. (Retirement will) take some adjustment,” he said recently. “(But) I’m looking forward to it. I have a lot of things (home renovation projects) I can do and have been putting off for quite a while.”
Someone told Mackey years ago that he would know when it was time to retire, he explained. That advice proved to be true, as Mackey took a vacation day to reflect on his career and realized he was tired and it was time to go.
“I loved this job, I did … ,” he said, adding he would do it again if given the opportunity. “There are good times and there are bad times. Unfortunately, with the way society is going, there will be more bad times.”
Mackey appreciated many of the relationships he developed within the police service, while he also enjoyed the relationships formed with other community agencies.
The Moose Javian always wanted to be a police officer, he explained, and since his brother joined the RCMP, he wanted to follow in his footsteps. Mackey applied at age 20 to several law enforcement organizations, but the Moose Jaw Police Service was the first to show interest in him. It was also special since he was born and raised in The Friendly City.
“I don’t regret it for a minute,” he added.
Being a police officer can come with challenges and stresses. Mackey pointed out that he acquired many negative memories and saw plenty of tragedy during his time in uniform. However, he does not dwell on them since he has tucked away those memories in his brain.
Conversely, there were many positive memories that he acquired during the past four decades.
He recalled one story about how he went to a coffee shop at 4 a.m. after a busy night. He came across a man inside a dumpster and learned the man was attempting to travel across the province. Mackey asked if he was hungry, received an affirmative reply, and brought the man inside for a meal. He then gave the hitchhiker some money for the road.
“That’s just the human side of things. It’s also not the only time I’ve done that (either),” he said.
Mackey started as a constable before receiving promotions to corporal, sergeant, inspector, and superintendent for the last 1.5 years of his career. During that time, he worked in the criminal investigations section — one of his favourite postings, he said — and later became supervisor of that area.
Two of the biggest changes Mackey saw in policing were in technology and equipment. When he started, he explained, there were no computers or cellphones, while his gear included a .38 revolver, a pair of handcuffs and a flashlight.
He fully expects technology to continue to evolve as time goes on. This includes social media — which is always changing — and cybercrime since criminals are becoming more technical.
“It’s actually scary, but maybe I’m reading too much into it,” he said, adding there will also likely be more violence and drug use as society changes.
If people want to become a police officer, Mackey suggested they talk with new and experienced officers to learn more about the profession. They should then apply, considering the opportunity exists to work in Moose Jaw.
