The MacLeish Chronicles: Introduction

Written by Harold McNeill on July 10th, 2013. Posted in MacLeish Chronicles


Oak Bay Welcome 2011

The MacLeish Chronicles takes place in the Municipality of Oak Bay, a small residential area in the Southeast corner of the Captial Region of British Columbia, a community where Detective Sergeant MacLeish and his partner, Detective Bard, pursued a felon whose attention to detail in the perfecting his craft drew the admiration of his pursuers on both sides of the border.

Introduction to the Series

The MacLeish Chronicles focuses on criminal and other events investigated by the Oak Bay Police Department a force of some thirty regular and civilian members. The series departs from the structure of the other stories in the Police Notebook Series, in that in the Chronicles Series the names of the characters have been changed and each story is written in the form of a novel.

The series, as in other stories about the Department, continues to bring into focus underlying social, ethical and legal issues faced by police as they not only pursue wrongdoers but, just as importantly, assist citizens who have found themselves facing challenges of one sort or another. 

Over their career, police members meet all manner of criminals and while the nature of some crimes can make it difficult to maintain an impartial view of the perpetrator (or sometimes even the victim), police members who become too judgemental are less effective in the performance of their duties.

It is also certain that a police officer who exhibits extreme views or harbours latent racist attitudes towards those whose race or lifestyle is one of which they disapprove are far more likely to become the subject of abuse complaints than officers who maintain an even-handed approach. Complaints of police abuse most often arise as a result of an officers attitude rather than having committed an actual physical assault.

Most experienced police officers also understand that a good many criminals exhibit a depth of character that can be masked by the exploits in which they have become involved. Of course, there are there are also those ‘victimless’ crimes that are more socially oriented than criminal (e.g. simple possession of marihuana). And, on the same tack, there are many criminals who exhibit greater honesty than do ‘honest’ citizens give not a second thought to scamming family, friends, business partners and others who appear to be easy marks.

421px-Frank_Abagnale_(cropped)On the criminal side, take for sample a man such as Frank Abagnale who was profiled in the movie Catch Me if you Can. His personality and outward confidence were such that he was easy to like and for the FBI officer who pursued him for several years, to realize Abagnale possessed some extraordinary skills that were simply being applied toward illegal rather than legal ends.

Photo:  In his late teens and twentiesFrank Abagnale became one of the best-known cheque forgers and con artists in the world.  After serving a half dozen years in a US Federal Penitentiary, he became a security consultant with the FBI where is his expertise in forgery was put to good use. Today, he continues his consulting work for industry and government.

In a local case along similar lines, one bank robber gained considerable notoriety for his daring escapades in British Columbia and elsewhere. After serving a number of years in penitentiary he turned his life around to become a productive member of the community he once held at gunpoint. At the time of his seeking parole a few police officers, including one from Oak Bay who felt the man had learned his lesson, came forward to provide character references. A sample of that mans exploits are outlined in an earlier post titled the Oak Bay Bank Heist.   Link Here

In this, the first post of the MacLeish Chronicles, a Viet Nam veteran and career criminal from the United States, Larry Doncaster, after arriving in Victoria in the 1980s, continued to ply his trade in Oak Bay and Esquimalt. Larry provides an excellent example of a career criminal whose dedication to perfecting his craft set him apart from others who worked in the field.

The story traces the challenges of solving a particular type of property crime that caused a significant problem in Oak Bay and Greater Victoria over the last few decades of the last century. The story also demonstrates how some criminals are able to ply their trade in a manner that reveals a high degree of respect for their business partners, victims and even the police members who pursued them.

A Matter of Principle is presented in two parts. Link here to Part 1

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Comments

  • Mike Fedorowich

    September 1, 2023 |

    I have gone through the above noted text and have found it quite informative.
    I am a former member with several law enforcement agencies from across Canada.
    I worked in the First Nations service under the authority of the RCMP with the over sight of the OPP. My law enforcement service was conducted under the authority of the Nishnawbe – Aski Police Service in North West Ontario the Louis Bull Police Sevice in Hobbema AB, the Kitasoo Xaixais Police Service in Northern in side passage on Swindle Island, the Lac Suel Police Service North West Ontario and the Vancouver Transit Authority Sky Train Police Service. I’m presently dealing with an RCMP member for falsifying a report against me for a road rage event. Court case is finished and the charge was dropped but I have an on going complaint with the member and have forwarded to the WATCH DOGS IN OTTAWA FOR the RCMP review and consideration. I believe the said officer is in violation of his oath of office and should be held accountable for falsifying his RTCC all the while dragging me through the court system here in Nanaimo. RCMP continue to stonewall the appeal but Ottawa and the crowns office are still looking into the matter. if your able and find the time or the interest in this very brief introduction, I would very much like to speak with you and would be grateful to hear any wisdom that may come across from your end. I served with First Nations Police Services for ten years in isolation and six years with Transit Police out of New West Minster. I do value and appreciate any time you could spare to chat for a bit on this particular subject matter. Respectfully with out anger but an open mind, Mike Fedorowich Nanaimo BC 250 667 0060

  • Harold McNeill

    February 28, 2022 |

    Hi Robert, I do remember some of those folks from my early years in Cold Lake (Hazel was my aunt and our family spent many fond times with Uncle Melvin, Aunt Hazel and Family. I knew Lawrence and Adrian. Having read a half dozen accounts it is clear their were many false narratives and, perhaps, a few truths along the way. I tried my best to provide an even account from what I read. Cheers, Harold. (email: Harold@mcneillifestories.com)

  • Robert Martineau

    February 25, 2022 |

    Its been a long time since any post here, but its worth a shot. My Grandfather was Hazel Wheelers brother Lawrence, and son to Maggie and Adrien. Maggie Martineau (nee Delaney) is my great grandmother. The books and articles to date are based on the white mans viewpoint and the real story as passed down by the Elders in my family is much more nefarious. Some of the white men were providing food for the Indians in exchange for sexual favors performed by the Squaws. Maggie was the product of one of those encounters. Although I am extremely proud of my family and family name, I am ashamed about this part of it.

  • Julue

    January 28, 2022 |

    Good morning Harold!
    Gosh darn it, you are such a good writer. I hope you have been writing a book about your life. It could be turned into a movie.
    Thanks for this edition to your blog.
    I pray that Canadians will keep their cool this weekend and next week in Ottawa. How do you see our PM handling it? He has to do something and quick!
    Xo Julie

  • Herb Craig

    December 14, 2021 |

    As always awesome job Harold. It seems whatever you do in life the end result is always the same professional, accurate, inclusive and entertaining. You have always been a class act and a great fellow policeman to work with. We had some awesome times together my friend. I will always hold you close as a true friend. Keep up the good work. Hope to see you this summer.
    Warm regards
    Herb Craig

  • Harold McNeill

    November 26, 2021 |

    Hi Dorthy, So glad you found those stories and, yes, they hold many fond memories. Thanks to social media and the blog, I’ve been able to get in touch with many friends from back in the day. Cheers, Harold

  • Harold McNeill

    November 26, 2021 |

    Well, well. Pleased to see your name pop up. I’m in regular contact via FB with many ‘kids’ from back in our HS days (Guy, Dawna, Shirley and others). Also, a lot of Cold Lake friends through FB. Cheers, Harold

  • Harold McNeill

    November 26, 2021 |

    Oh, that is many years back and glad you found the story. I don’t have any recall of others in my class other than the Murphy sisters on whose farm my Dad and Mom worked.

  • Harold McNeill

    November 26, 2021 |

    Pleased to hear from you Howie and trust all is going well. As with you, I have a couple of sad stories of times in my police career when I crossed paths with Ross Barrington Elworthy. Just haven’t had the time to write those stories.

  • Howie Siegel

    November 25, 2021 |

    My only fight at Pagliacci’s was a late Sunday night in 1980 (?) He ripped the towel machine off the bathroom wall which brought me running. He came after me, I grabbed a chair and cracked him on the head which split his skull and dropped him. I worried about the police finding him on the floor. I had just arrived from Lasqueti Island and wasn’t convinced the police were my friends. I dragged him out to Broad and Fort and left him on the sidewalk, called the cops. They picked him up and he never saw freedom again (as far as I know). I found out it was Ross Elworthy.