After 25 years of service, Morden's Special Constable Pam Goertzen said she knew from a young age, that she wanted to work in law enforcement.
"It started probably when I was 16 and my school had a work experience program. I went to the Bay downtown in Winnipeg and worked in loss prevention for a couple of years, and I just loved anything law enforcement. I went to school and I got a degree, I did a summer student program with the RCMP, and I really enjoyed working in law enforcement. Then, I was an Ancillary Constable with the RCMP before I started working here. It's just something I've always been interested in, and I'm glad I'm still able to be involved."
In 1997, Goertzen was the first female officer to be hired in Morden. She reflected on what it was like at that time.
"The city was used to female officers because there were female officers with the Morden RCMP and Carman RCMP, so it was no problem working with the officers. I knew them because I'd worked in the office for two years, so I didn't have any problems adjusting, and everyone was great here. The city seemed to be quite happy to have a female officer working."
Although some people she encountered through her work may have had an issue with a woman in authority, Chief Brad Neduzak remarked some preferred a female officer, noting she was essential in certain investigations.
One of the challenges Goertzen faced, early in her career as a constable on the street, was working alone with backup from Winkler being 10 minutes away. She added, that it isn't like that anymore, but there came a time in her career when she made a decision.
"When my kids were little, that's sort of when I decided that it would probably be a better fit for me, to work in the office. Both me and my husband were working shift work, and we're both working full time and having little kids, that just makes it very hard. So, I felt that I wanted to stay working here, I enjoy working in this office and I'm glad that there was the opportunity to work back in the office. I didn't have to worry about the risk factor as much because I was in the office working behind the scenes, rather than in the front line."
Neduzak thanked Goertzen for serving 25 years of service noting her experience, expertise and work ethic are hard to find and replace when the time comes.
She commented on what it has been like spending her entire career in Morden.
"I love Morden. I grew up close, I'm from Manitou, so I've always known Morden. I always came here when I was a kid and I have no intentions of going anywhere else. I love this community. It's a great place to live."