Setlack’s Eye Opening Experience in the RCMP
- Kassia Skorzewska
- Apr 23, 2023
- 4 min read
Growing up with a father in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), it’s no wonder Anthony Setlack went down that path as a career. In some ways, you could say the calling to live the RCMP life has been in his blood since he was born.
“It was a great childhood. It was kind of a double-edged sword. Growing up, we had to move every three to five years – which is the average time an RCMP officer will spend at one spot,” the 30-year-old said.
“It was exciting because you’re moving to a new community but at the same time, you’re starting fresh and you have to make new friends. It helped me grow as a person because I learned to initiate new relationships throughout my childhood every time we moved,” he added.
Originally, Setlack didn’t want to be an RCMP officer. His dad was also a pilot, so for as long as he can remember, Setlack wanted to go into the aviation business.
Earning his pilot’s licence at a young age, Setlack made the decision that he was either going to become a pilot in the Air Force, or he was going to join the RCMP.
Eventually college courses were the deciding factor.
“That’s what kind of changed my direction so I still flew as a hobby — but mainly career-wise, I was drawn towards the RCMP,” Setlack said.
The allure of the RCMP not being a regular nine to five job was also a call to Setlack.
“Every day is different,” he said. “You go to work; you don’t know what’s going to happen. It could be quiet, nothing’s happening or it could be a day where you’re non-stop running to different calls and dealing with different situations.”
At 19, working in the tiny town of Indian Head, Sask. – that is where it all started for Setlack.
“I was paired up my first shift with a big, big solid muscular guy. He had to go sideways through doors. He was a solid big guy and I thought, wow, what’s going to happen today, what are we going to get involved in,” Setlack said.
“First call we ever had; I think we talked to a girl about harassing someone on Facebook actually. I remember being excited and full of life,” he added.
Working in Indian Head was where Setlack also met fellow officer, 30-year-old Kevin Bruce.
“He really matured quite a bit. He was always a very welcoming person. Obviously, when you’re in the RCMP, you move a lot and you change locations, and you work with new people, and he was always very welcoming to that,” Bruce said about Setlack’s growth.
Following his time in Indian Head, Setlack was forced to relocate to Swift Current, Sask.
While there, he struck up a work and friend relationship with 42-year-old Don Kyllo and 28-year-old Luay Toma.
“We worked together, and we tackled a lot of crime in Swift Current, especially the drug dealers,” Kyllo said.
Throughout his time in Swift Current, Toma noticed how Setlack’s personality is fitting for an RCMP officer.
“I’ve noticed that Anthony has always been open to try new things, and any time that Anthony finds a challenge, he likes to pick it up and he always steps up to the plate. He also enjoys trying to better himself,” Toma said.
For the 2017-18 year, Setlack moved to Ottawa, Ont., as he joined the RCMP Musical Ride.
The RCMP Musical Ride is a show put on by 32 officers performing a choreographed routine to music on horseback. In the show, the officers wear the famous Red Serge against the black of the horse. Each year, the Musical Ride tours Canada throughout the spring and summer.
Joining the Musical Ride was not easy for Setlack.
Due to his uneasiness around the horses, he almost got sent home.
“I grew up with skidoos and dirt bikes and quads and things I trusted and to learn to trust an animal – a living, breathing animal that has a mind of its own – that was huge,” Setlack said.
In his first year with the Musical Ride, Setlack rode Jingle, a six-year-old mare standing at 16.2 hands tall. Setlack’s first year on the Musical Ride was also Jingle’s first year.
“I was assigned her about halfway through the tour and with her, it didn’t take long. I developed a bond pretty quick. She’s a really, really nice horse,” Setlack explained.
“One thing I like about her is she’s got a different coloured nose so she stands out and she’s easy to tell in the crowd because they’re all black,” he added.
This past year, Setlack was a swing rider. He would ride any horse in any position.
Setlack did end up bonding with Bev, a 15-year-old 16.2 hands tall horse.
“Ever since I’ve gained confidence and started to trust the horses, it’s been great,” Setlack said. I’m totally comfortable riding any one of those horses in the barn now so to go from almost getting sent home to my role now and where I can ride any musical ride horse, it’s pretty cool.”
So far, Setlack’s favourite part about being in the Musical Ride has been the impact he has experienced when he goes to each community on a tour.
“We show up in town and there’s people waiting to greet us,” he said. “We went down to Leamington last year, Southern Ontario, and as our bus pulled into town, there were people outside our hotel waving the Canadian flag and they were sitting, waiting for us.”
Usually, officers spend two years with the Musical Ride, but since there is a need for Musical Ride members, Setlack has chosen to stay on for a third year.
This coming summer’s tour will be extra special for Setlack as it travels down to his home province of Saskatchewan.
Setlack’s co worker, 34-year-old Jay Semkiw, emphasized how special it will be as the Musical Ride heads down west.
“I know Anthony takes a lot of pride in his family and in his roots. I know his father is an RCMP officer and his family has military experience,” Semkiw said.
“I know his brothers are both Air Force officers, so it would definitely make him very proud to come back home and visit his parents with the musical ride,” he added.
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