FOX VALLEY — On a cold evening in March, the Saskatchewan RCMP received a 911 call from a man whose vehicle was stuck in a remote area near Fox Valley. Before the call dropped, officers learned the vehicle was partially submerged in water and snow.
Officers were faced with the challenge of covering a vast geographic area with limited information, states a release issued by Saskatchewan RCMP Monday..
Leader RCMP officers deployed their Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) to sweep the area from above. Detachment officers, Saskatchewan RCMP Police Dog Services and a conservation officer with Provincial Protective Services Branch conducted the search on the ground and worked throughout the night to find the man, say police.
The cold temperatures continued until the following morning, bringing fresh snow and a −29° C windchill. Time was of the essence to find the man and bring him to safety. Drawing on additional resources, Sergeant Don Kyllo, Leader RCMP Detachment commander, remembered meeting a local pilot who offered his plane if the RCMP ever needed to expand a search area.
“Did you mean what you said? That you’d be willing to help with your plane if we ever needed it,” Sergeant Don Kyllo asked the pilot.
The pilot agreed without hesitation. “I’ve been waiting 15 years for this call,” he replied.
Shortly after taking off, the pilot located the stranded vehicle and relayed the coordinates to officers on the ground. Police say the pilot circled in the air until officers arrived at the scene. Officers located the man sitting near his vehicle.
Officers took the man back to the detachment to warm up with a cup of tea and food, with no physical injuries reported to police.
“I met this pilot when I first arrived as the Detachment Commander in Leader and right away he told me that if we ever needed help with his plane, he’d be there. He stayed true to that promise and stepped forward without hesitation,” said Sergeant Don Kyllo, in the release, “Situations like this remind us how important it is to have a positive connection with the people we serve and the communities we police. Last month, that partnership helped save a life.”
The pilot credited strong relationships with local RCMP officers as a key to community safety.
“I’ve always believed in maintaining a strong relationship with our local RCMP officers. Whenever I can support them, I will,” said the pilot. “Cooperation and teamwork are essential in keeping our community safe and we’re fortunate to have some truly outstanding RCMP officers serving in Leader.”
The Saskatchewan RCMP extends its sincere thanks to everyone who assisted in the search. Police say the communities they serve are at the core of everything they do, and this collaboration is a strong reminder of what can be accomplished together.
