Sun setting on popular Sussex-born RCMP sergeant's 35-year career

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By David Kelly

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KINGS COUNTY -

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Doug Lockhart

If Doug Lockhart says he'll do it, consider it done.

That is what RCMP Cpl. Graham Milner and Neighbourhood Watch coordinator for District 3 John A. Brown say when they speak about the Sussex-born RCMP Sergeant.

Lockhart, currently based in Fredericton serving as coordinator for Community Policing and Aboriginal youth, will be recognized later this month with the prestigious Order of Merit. Lockhart and his wife will be leaving for the ceremony at Rideau Hall May 22.

The Order of Merit is an award given by the Canada's Governor-General to police force members with careers of exceptional service. It recognizes them for their commitment to Canada with a focus on exceptional merit, contribution to policing and community development.

"That describes him to a tee," said Milner, who worked alongside Lockhart for several years in Sussex. "He should have received it long ago, in my opinion."

Lockhart, who is planning to retire in late July, has served the RCMP in many capacities in his more than three decades as a Mountie.

He has been a major crime investigator, one of the first Emergency Response Team members for New Brunswick's "J" Division and has always been a man of compassion.

Lockhart certainly left his mark on the Dairytown, especially when he helped lead the switch in Sussex from town policing to RCMP in 1999. Milner remembers the tireless effort Lockhart put forth during that period and throughout Lockhart's seven years of service in the area.

"I'm sure he saved us six or eight months of waiting," Milner said of the drawn-out amalgamation process that moved quite quickly with Lockhart involved.

Lockhart also cleared the way for the new detachment on Leonard Drive, which sits on land formerly occupied by his family's home until it was destroyed in a fire in 1956.

Milner said for RCMP members and residents of the communities where Lockhart served, he led by example and that's why he has the reputation he does today.

"He brought a lot to this community and people still talk about him to this day," Milner said. "Doug took a real keen interest in the Neighbourhood Watch program."

It was in those early days of organizing Neighbourhood Watch groups around the district that Lockhart met Brown. Twelve years later, the two are still often working side by side organizing and training residents in the benefits of the community-based watch groups.

During that time, Brown said Lockhart has again and again displayed a consistent level of integrity. While Brown admits he's not entirely objective when he speaks of his friend, he said it is all deserved.

"I might go a little bit overboard in singing his praises but he's one of the very few people I've met you just can't say too much good about," said Brown. "At one point at "J" Division they were calling him the Wayne Gretzky of the RCMP."

For all of the accolades and pats on the back, Lockhart said he simply wanted to fulfill what be believed the role of a modern RCMP officer had become. And if it required a few extra phone calls, meetings or late nights, he was more than prepared to do it because it was for the better.

"I started realizing that it has to be more than enforcement as a police officer," he said.

"If I'm going to be a well-rounded police officer and do my duty to the best of my ability every day, then I have to help on the other side and be proactive and try to help prevent the crime as much as investigating it afterwards."