ST. PAUL – It’s been 18 years since Dennis Silliker moved away from Alberta after joining the RCMP. And after nearly two decades of being in the force, he says it is now time to come home.
Silliker is the new detachment commander for the St. Paul RCMP.
“Originally, I am from Alberta,” he says, adding he has some familiarity too within the Lakeland, having worked in the oil field in the Elk Point region before joining the RCMP.
He was recruited into the RCMP in Black Diamond, Alta., now called Diamond Valley after the amalgamation of the Town of Black Diamond and the Town of Turner Valley in 2022, before moving to British Columbia to kickstart his career.
“It’s been 18 years or so since I’ve been back to Alberta to live. I’m sure looking forward to it. This is home,” says Silliker.
He has served in multiple roles over the years in the RCMP, including being in the RCMP’s Prime Minister Protection Detail (PMPD) from 2012 to 2016.
He was with former Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s protection detail, and in that capacity, was able to travel internationally including to West Africa, Qatar, and Tokyo. In 2015 and 2016, he was also a bodyguard for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
After his work with the PMPD, he transferred to the RCMP’s Depot Division and helped train new cadets as a firearms instructor and a use-of-force trainer.
From there, he served as a detachment commander in Manitoba and in Saskatchewan, “And then I went to Regina again and was with the Livestock Investigations Unit... and now I’m here,” he says.
“It’s been a lot of moving around, a lot of moving pieces, but I’m certainly happy to be home,” says Silliker, adding with a laugh that the novelty of constantly moving around wears off. “And God willing, we’re going to put some roots down in St. Paul and stay here.”
He has been in St. Paul for less than a month and says he is taking the opportunity to meet residents, community members and stakeholders, talking to them and identifying what their priorities are.
“Once I can make those relationships... we can be strategic about putting a plan together to meet some of those needs.”
He explained that as the new detachment commander, identifying community priorities is his main goal, which will then mean being able to provide a high-quality of service.
But first, “In order to identify somebody’s priorities, needs, or expectations, you need to get to know the community.”
Providing high-quality service also requires speaking and working with stakeholders and community leaders. “There’s some excellent leadership here... and my goal is to help shoulder the burden together.”
“I mean... we all want safe homes and communities... That’s really what I want to contribute to.”
The St. Paul detachment’s previous detachment commander, Sgt. Bobby Burgess, accepted a position as a District Advisory NCO (DANCO). His role will include being a conduit between detachment commanders and the district commander of the eastern Alberta RCMP District.
Burgess will be staying in St. Paul. He will be moving “upstairs” to join the six DANCOs at the St. Paul detachment building.
Burgess previously told the Lakeland This Week that the community has been good to him, helping his family through some difficult times, and he hopes to finish his career with the RCMP in St. Paul.
