Residents of Drumheller Valley and area may see increased police presence from time to time due to police training operations in the area.
On Thursday, September 5 2024, a “Police Training Advisory” was issued through local media and social media in response to such training that occurred east of the Town of Drumheller.
Staff Sergeant Robert Harms of Drumheller RCMP explained that RCMP officers across Canada, including in Drumheller, have always been subject to ongoing and “industry leading” training and re-certification regarding a wide range of policing skills.
In 2024, Drumheller RCMP rolled out an aggressive in-house tactical training program to supplement the existing training already received.
He stated that the primary purpose for the additional training is quite simply to ensure “policing excellence” regarding officer skills, preparation, and response to even the most complex situations.
S/Sgt. Harms further explained that although the RCMP does not share the specifics of tactics and training publicly, the in-house training program often involves mastering tactics, equipment use, team work, communications, and more. Often, neighbouring detachment officers and officers from support units will attend the training.
S/Sgt. Harms further stated that such training occurs regularly, is often out of the public eye, and is sure to continue for the foreseeable future; he thanks the many property owners, agencies, and the Town of Drumheller for their support including graciously allowing officers to utilize properties and facilities for such training.

Expert diving skills came in handy to preserve the memories of one man’s family.
Last week one of the operators of the Bleriot Ferry lost his phone in the river. It contained images of his mother and father who had passed away. Word quickly spread looking for someone who might be able to retrieve it.
Word spread and Former Drumheller Staff Sergeant Art Hopkins heard from his wife Bonnie about the operator’s plea. The operator had attempted to find the phone using a magnet. Hopkins felt he might be able to help as he is trained in underwater recovery.
“When he lost it his wife put on social media that his phone was lost and they found someone who believes they could extract the information off the phone and were looking for someone who could look for this phone,” he said.
Hopkins started with the RCMP in 1981 and joined the team in 1983, and served for about 25 years. He was in charge of the Saskatchewan Underwater Recovery Team and a senior instructor on the underwater training national recovery team.
“I was very active with the underwater recovery program when I came to this province I had to give it up because the police don’t maintain that program in this province,” said Hopkins.
“I met with the guy to get all the associated details to see if was a doable dive, and it was. “I pulled out all of my equipment to see if it was up to snuff and it was,” said Hopkins.
Hopkins headed out last week one evening after the ferry was closed, and determined that he would have to use his diving gear rather than a snorkel.
“The current is very strong there, I was quite amazed. Most rivers, as you get to the bottom the current virtually stops, but this had current from to bottom,” said Hopkins.
Hopkins explained he did a pendulum line search. This is where a diver is let out into the water with a line, and they search on a pendulum swing of line, pulling the rope in by increments each time the diver completes a search.
“When we got close to the Bleriot Ferry, that’s where the phone was. I would fair to say it went 3- feet downstream from where it went in,” said Hopkins.
Overall he said the search was simple and took about 15 minutes.