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Walter P. Tyrrell was a Richmond RCMP volunteer for nearly two decades following service with the Royal Australian Air Force, the RCMP, and the Royal Canadian Air Cadets.

Photo courtesy Richmond RCMP

Richmond RCMP mourns loss of longtime volunteer

By Richmond Sentinel

Published 12:03 PST, Tue February 7, 2023

Last Updated: 3:11 PST, Thu February 9, 2023

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Longtime Richmond RCMP volunteer Walter P. Tyrrell recently died at the age of 96.

Tyrrell was born on Aug. 5, 1926 in Blackfalds, Alta. He moved with his family to Australia in 1939 and joined the Royal Australian Air Force in 1944, becoming part of the 53rd Radar Group in Northern Queensland after completing radio/signals training.

After the Second World War, Tyrrell returned to Canada where he mounted up with the RCMP in 1951 and was first posted to Moose Jaw, Sask. A series of transfers and promotions followed, during which time he obtained a private pilot’s license, and in 1971 he was promoted to staff sergeant of a specialized section in Vancouver. After retiring from the force in 1976, Tyrrell worked in insurance fraud at ICBC until his retirement in 1985.

Tyrrell was also heavily involved with the Royal Canadian Air Cadets from 1981 to 1991, eventually becoming the commander of both 692 Air Canada and 655 Richmond Air Cadet Squadrons. Upon reaching the compulsory retirement age for the military component of the Air Cadets, Tyrrell retired with the rank of major, but continued to be involved with the Air Cadet League of Canada from 1991 to 2011, ultimately becoming provincial secretary.

In 2001, Tyrrell began volunteering at Richmond RCMP and continued to do so well into his 90s. In 2020, the pandemic brought a pause to Richmond RCMP volunteer activities, forcing Tyrrell to finally step back.

“Walter Tyrrell’s contributions to Richmond RCMP and the City of Richmond were second to none,” says Chief Supt. Dave Chauhan, officer in charge of Richmond RCMP. “Since 2001, Walter logged more than 20,000 volunteer hours with Richmond RCMP. That equates to more than nine years of full-time employment promoting public safety in our community. If you paid a visit to either the Richmond RCMP’s Vancouver International Airport sub-office or the South Arm community policing office during the past two decades, chances are you met Walter. He truly was a fixture here, and we shall miss him dearly.”

Over the years, Tyrrell received many accolades for his contributions to Richmond RCMP, the City of Richmond, and other organizations. In addition to appreciation awards from the RCMP and the city, he was named a Paul Harris Fellow for his contributions to Rotary International.

Tyrrell also received a Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers, presented to him by the Lieutenant Governor of B.C. in 2019. He received a letter from the Prime Minister for his volunteer efforts, was a lifetime member of the Royal Canadian Air Force Association, and received a 65-year membership award from the Royal Canadian Legion.

Tyrrell passed away peacefully in his care home facility at the age of 96. Richmond RCMP’s Staff Sergeant Walter P. Tyrrell Atrium Museum honours his legacy; officially dedicated to Tyrrell during his lifetime, it is currently in the process of re-development.