Two RCMP officers made a brief visit to the Coast Guard station in Cobourg while they were patrolling on Lake Ontario on Tuesday, July 10, 2018.
RCMP Corporal Peter Sandziuk and and Derek Melnick are stationed on the CCGS Corporal Teather C.V. which is the third of the Canadian Coast Guard’s Hero Class vessels.
The RCMP officers are part of the Marine Security Enforcement Team (Eastern Patrol) assigned to the ship.
CCGS Corporal Teather C.V. was named after Corporal Robert Gordon Teather, C.V., a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police diving team in Surrey, British Columbia. Corporal Teather rescued two fishermen trapped in the hull of their capsized boat. This heroic rescue occurred in the early morning hours of September 26, 1981. Corporal Teather passed away November 14, 2004. For his actions Corporal Teather was awarded the Cross of Valour.
The Hero Class vessels are named for decorated soldiers, veterans and police officers as well as employees of Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Canadian Coast Guard. By naming these after Canadian heroes the Government of Canada hopes to encourage future generations to learn about Canadian history, culture and geography.
The Hero Class vessels are 47 metres in length with a displacement of 257 tonnes and a top speed of 25 knots.
The ship has a crew of nine and was launched in 2013.
Corporal Sandziuk said he has been stationed on the ship for two years and said it’s a great experience.
“I work with great people and we see a lot of the lake from end to end.”
As a RCMP officer for 28 years. Sandziuk has worked all over Canada.
“I never thought I’d be in the marine program, but it’s everything I thought it would be.”
Along with stopping at the Coast Guard station the officers spoke with a number of local people in the area before heading back out onto Lake Ontario to catch up with their ship.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
