Sergeant Dereck C. Burkholder Memorial Trust

Sgt. Dereck Burkholder joined the RCM Police on the 18th of August 1966 in New Brunswick. After recruit training he was transferred to Nova Scotia where he served at numerous Detachments and Highway Patrol Units across the province.

In 1966 Sgt. Burkholder was transferred to Lunenburg Detachment as the Detachment Commander after having served eight years at Bridgewater Detachment. Bridgewater and Lunenburg Detachments work closely together and are located 24 kms apart.

On the 14th June, 1996 Sgt. Burkholder was advised of a domestic dispute at a residence in Mader's Cove, NS where shots had been fired. Sgt. Burkholder knew the suspect from previous dealings and felt that he could talk to him. Through telephone conversation the suspect met Sgt. Burkholder outside the residence and was placed in the rear of a police vehicle. A short time later the suspect shot and killed Sgt. Burkholder while in the police vehicle. The suspect then took his own life moments later.

As a result of this tragic event, citizens in the Bridgewater area formed a committee for the purpose of raising funds to:

i)	erect a plaque or monument at Bridgewater and Lunenburg Detachments in memory of Sgt. Burkholder
ii)	establish an annual bursary in memory of Sgt. Burkholder to qualified grade XII students in Lunenburg County who will be furthering their education and pursuing a career in a law related field, and
iii )	establish an annual monetary award in memory of Sgt. Burkholder for a Junior High School student (ie: an essay contest).

For those who did not know Derek, he is fondly remembered as a devoted husband and father, a dedicated member of the RCM Police, and a person who was extremely well respected and liked by his peers as well as members in the community.

The "Sergeant Derek C. BURKHOLDER Memorial Trust" was incorporated under the Societies Act in the Province of Nova Scotia and application has been made to make the Trust a non-profit organization.

It is felt that the annual bursaries supplied by the Trust will ensure that the memory of Sgt. Burkholder lives on.

A trust account has been opened at the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce at Bridgewater, Nova Scotia. All CIBC Branches in the Maritimes will accept donations to the Trust.

If any individual or group would like to make a donation to the Trust and cannot make a deposit direct, the cheque or money order should be made payable to the "Sgt. Derek C. BURKHOLDER Memorial Trust" and forwarded to: