The Elk Valley RCMP welcomed their newest member into rotation this week as Sgt. Will Thien has arrived in Sparwood. Sgt. Thien is not a stranger to the Elk Valley, having been here one year ago, when Kienan Hebert went missing. "I really thought Sparwood was nice and the people here were amazing. I needed a change from the big city, and so I requested the transfer to the Elk Valley. Being in the Valley is like a breath of fresh air for me, I know I will be truly happy here, and I am really looking forward to getting to know members of the community," he says.
Sgt. Thien's credentials are long listed and his skills and talents are many. He immigrated to Canada from Malaysia at the age of 17 and after seeing a picture of a Mountie in Toronto, he knew that's what he wanted to be. Making his dreams become a reality his first posting was in Port Coquitlam working in general duties and major crime. After working there for seven years, he then transferred to Border Integrity Intelligence where he then joined Behavioral Sciences and was promoted to Corporal. Thien spent time studying the behavior of known offenders and matched them to other current or cold cases. He also took on a sexual tourism case with the Integrated Sexual Predator Observation Group (ISPOT) where he travelled to Columbia and brought justice to the individual involved. "In my past duties I have spent a lot of time studying the behaviour of, and being involved in sexual predator cases. It has been very interesting, but also very trying at times as well," says Thien. "I am really looking forward to being in a smaller town, dealing with different types of cases and working with the team here," as he comments how impressed he was by the dedication and hard word by local Elk Valley Members.
"When I was driving to the Valley, I was overwhelmed with a feeling of 'coming home'. I know that making this move was one of my better decisions and can't wait to begin this new stage in my life," he says.
Former Sgt. Dave Dubnyk will be transferred to Sicamous, BC upon the sale of his house. For now, he will continue working at regular strength in the Valley.