Airdrie’s high schools have had a role model like none other for the past three years.
Const. David Henry has spent the last three years of his life and career working with students as a mentor and an active member of the local RCMP. Last week, he was notified that he will be transferred to the Athabasca area.
Henry was born and raised in High Level, Alta. Growing up, he had a hockey coach who was his role model and a member of the RCMP.
“I always wanted be a cop. Right from being a little guy. My hockey coach was a cop and I had a lot of respect for him, he always stood up for us,” said Henry. “I always wanted to do what he did. Be involved in the community, get to know people, not just be the hard-nosed cop out there.”
Henry was unable to work with the RCMP due to his imperfect vision. But when he turned 35, he had laser surgery, which allowed him to join the force.
His first deployment was in St. Albert, where he spent five years learning about the role he could play in a community. He then spent two of those years working in the schools, in the role he has now, working with students.
He was transferred to Airdrie three years ago. Upon his arrival, he found a community ready for a role model.
“They gave me the tools I needed to do this job,” said Henry. “The community really took me in. It was a fairly new position when I got here. I have sucked it for all its worth and made it the best experience I can.”
Since becoming Airdrie’s RCMP school liaison, Henry has participated in school sports, field trips, band concerts and even helped out in spearheading the Ride of the Mustangs fundraiser. (See related story on page 1).
Henry has taken the position to a new level, adding that his mandate is to encourage youth to become accountable for their actions and he said does his best to keep them out of “the system.”
“I have to show these kids that I will be compassionate and help them, but they can’t do it again,” said Henry. “They know they are going to be in trouble. I want them to understand that it’s not the be all end all. Telling the truth will get you so much further in life.”
Henry attributes his success in his role to the community around him and his family. He says his wife of 20 years, Sharene, and his two children Chris and Katie, 10 and 12, motivate him to do what he does every day.
“It taught me a lot more compassion when I had my own kids and working in the schools has taught me a lot about being a parent. I am a parent first and an officer second,” said Henry. “Without (Sharene) my kids would be wild. Even when I am riding away for the (Ride of the Mustangs) for 48 hours, she says she will see me when I get back. She has always been there for me and always will be.”
Henry found out about his transfer during the Ride of the Mustangs, and said it was very tough to read.
“I knew it was coming, but to see it on paper, it really hit me,” he said. “In the middle of something that great, with the people I love and the people I get along with and to know I couldn’t share it, it devastated me.”
“It is a good thing I guess. It is just tough when you are working so hard,” said Henry. “I hope the next community will want to work with me as much as Airdrie did. I wish there was a way how I could tell, and I don’t want to name names because there are so many, that I feel like they took me in as one of their own. They accepted me in the schools as one of their own. They didn’t make me check in at the office and get a visitor pass every time. They really should have because I can be really immature. This city made me a team member, how can you beat that?”
Henry wants any student he has had the chance to work with to know that they have had an incredible impact on his life.
“I wish there was some big quote, but these kids, the youth, they don’t realize that they have impacted my life as much as I tried to impact theirs.... My outlook on life has become better because of them.”
