File photo.
An off-duty Port Hardy RCMP officer is being praised for finding thousands of dollars in a parking lot and immediately giving the cash to his coworkers so the rightful owner could be found.
Port Hardy RCMP said at around 5:30 p.m. on Oct. 25, Const. Jong Kim was walking through the parking lot at 8775 Granville Street when he saw a number of $100 and $50 bills on the ground. Kim quickly gathered up the loose money and a nearby envelope. Police said the wind had picked up and the money was being blown around.
Kim immediately told a co-worker at the Port Hardy RCMP detachment. The co-worker came and took away the money for safe-keeping. However, no one reported lost money to police on that date or afterwards.
Police then made some community inquiries. On Nov. 8, they discovered a local business had lost a large sum of money and but did not report it as it as they thought the money would never be found. After Port Hardy RCMP determined the money belonged to the business, they returned the lost cash to the business’ owner.
Port Hardy Detachment Commander Staff Sgt. Wes Olsen credited Kim for his keen observation skills, honesty and integrity in seizing and safeguarding the money so that it could be returned. Olsen also said Kim was humble in response to the accolades received from the owners of the lost money and his coworkers.
Olsen added that Kim, who transferred Vegreville, Alta. to Port Hardy in September, was a welcome addition to the team.
Alexa Huffman
