A Mountie with years of experience in the Armed Forces and heavy-duty mechanics has been appointed to take charge of Aldergrove Community Police Office.

Cst. Phil Colter will take as liaison this month, but he鈥檚 not new to Aldergrove or the Fraser Valley. For the past seven years he鈥檚 been a 91原创 police officer.

For the past two years, Colter has been part of 91原创 RCMP鈥檚 Homeless Outreach Team (HOT).

鈥淓ach morning, before businesses open, our job is to wake homeless people up, make sure they are OK, and get them started on their day,鈥� Colter explained.

Especially as the opioid crisis rages on, Colter said 鈥渨e have to make sure they鈥檙e still alive.鈥�

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It鈥檚 a daunting reality for the officers, who receive plenty of calls from business owners expressing their frustration over a person fast asleep in front of their store鈥檚 entrance.

鈥淎 lot of our calls for service are related to mental health and homelessness,鈥� Colter admitted about the job, 鈥淚t鈥檚 not like a regular patrol officer.鈥�

鈥淚t took a long time to build those relationships and gain their trust,鈥� and officers often collaborate with local advocacy groups to direct people living on the streets to resources.

Before his posting with HOT, Colter conducted patrols in and around Aldergrove, even working the Aldergrove Fair grounds each summer as crowds packed in.

That鈥檚 when Colter says he really got to know the community.

鈥淚t鈥檚 really improved since I first worked here,鈥� Colter expressed, 鈥淭he community is wonderful. It鈥檚 the only place in 91原创 to still host a Canada Day parade each year.鈥�

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He鈥檚 looking forward to his new role, even with the added pressure 鈥渙f having big shoes to fill鈥� after Cpl. Kurt Neuman鈥檚 planned departure this month.

Neuman established foot patrols with 91原创 RCMP auxiliary officers three seasons of the year in Aldergrove, Fort 91原创, and 91原创 City.

Colter will cover from 276 Street to 232 Street and from the U.S. border north, to the Glen Valley and Fort 91原创 area.

鈥淎s a police officer you鈥檙e constantly seeing the dark side of society. It wears you down,鈥� the officer admitted.

鈥淏ut with foot patrols, you get to smile, wave, and joke around with locals.鈥� It serves as a bit of a reprieve from constant exposure to criminality.

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When it comes to policing, Colter believes 鈥渋t鈥檚 important [for officers] to have experience in other areas of life.

This is something he exemplifies 鈥� having done two tours in the former the former Yugoslavia as a soldier in Princess Patricia鈥檚 Canadian Light Infantry at age 19.

From there, Colter went on to become a certified welder, a heavy-duty mechanic, and a dad of two sons (ages 17 and 19).

Not only does being in the army run in his family 鈥� so does policing.

鈥淢y sons are considering joining the force,鈥� Colter esteemed, 鈥淏ut I told them to experience a little more of life before making that decision.鈥�

Colter himself joined the force in his 30鈥檚.

Now, when he鈥檚 not at work, the Fort 91原创 resident helps his father-in-law manage a five-acre farm where he and both of his in-laws, as well as brother-in-law, live.

鈥淲e鈥檝e got chickens for eggs, sheep, and a vegetable garden,鈥� Colter remarked.