RCMP Sergeant Robert James Schrader was killed October 9, 1970

October 9, 2020 marked the 50th anniversary of the murder of two Saskatchewan RCMP officers near Macdowall.

The cold-blooded killings, which triggered the largest manhunt in the history of the province, are now almost forgotten; except by people from the local area, the RCMP and the families of the fallen officers.

But even at the time, the events were almost unknown outside of Saskatchewan because they were overshadowed by the FLQ Crisis that was unfolding in Quebec, also in October, 1970.

Last fall, a solemn ceremony was held at the Prince Albert RCMP detachment building, as Mounties in red serge assembled to pay their respects to two colleagues who had died in the line of duty exactly 50 years earlier.

RCMP Constable Doug Anson was killed October 9, 1970

Sergeant Robert James Schrader and Constable Douglas Bernard Anson lost their lives on October 9, 1970. They are both buried with full honours at the RCMP Academy, Depot Division in Regina.

Sergeant Schrader and Constable Doug Anson were shot dead on that fatal day at a farmyard near Macdowall,when they responded to a domestic dispute.

Schrader, 40 years old at the time of his death, was a 22-year veteran of the RCMP. He was married and the father of five young children.

Anson, an RCMP officer with 11 years of service under his belt, was just 30 years old and had been married less than two months.

Wilfred Stanley Robertson, who had sparked the initial domestic dispute call to the police when he got into an argument with his wife, shot Constable Anson twice as the police officer stood in the doorway of the Robertson farm home. The first bullet entered Anson’s chest and spun him around. Robertson’s second shot got Anson in the back.

Robertson then fired three shots at Sergeant Schrader, who was cut down before he could call for backup on the RCMP cruiser’s radio. Two of those bullets found their mark. Schrader was unarmed at the time.

By the time police officers from several RCMP detachments arrived on the scene, Robertson had already fled in a stolen police vehicle, taking with him his .22 rifle and Anson’s service revolver.

Robertson later abandoned the vehicle and took to the woods, triggering a manhunt that lasted throughout the winter. Police officers from virtually every detachment across the province, as well as army personnel from Shilo, Manitoba and cadets from the Regina training depot were called in to assist in the air and ground search for the killer.

It wasn’t until May of the following year that Robertson’s body was found in the bush about two miles from the farmhouse. Robertson had died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Rosthern author Kate Kading believes the true story of the tragic events needs to be told, not just to ensure the facts of the case are made public, but also to honour the memory of the slain officers.

Rosthern author Kate Kading

For the past six years, Kading, a professional journalist and the wife of a serving RCMP member, has been researching and writing a novel based on the case. The book is slated to be launched later this summer.

‘On Scene’, a fictionalized narrative that stays true to the facts as recorded in the police investigation, also includes extensive author’s notes to ensure readers can delineate the boundary between fact and speculation.

“It’s a novel,” said Kading in an interview. “I didn’t want to write a ‘true crime’ book or a 150-page newspaper article. I wanted to tell the story in a way that conveys people’s perceptions and emotions, and portrays those involved as real people. It’s an important story, and one that I hope is not lost.”

Kading said she first learned of the case from Russell Hanson, who owns and operates the North West Mounted Police Museum in Duck Lake.

Hanson, who was a teenager at the time of the 1970 murders, encouraged her to write a book about the incident. She was initially reluctant to take on the project.

“I didn’t want to write about the worst day of someone’s life,” she said. “When I told my husband, Sarge, about it. He said, ‘well, why don’t you do a little research, and then decide?’

“So I did that, and realized I wasn’t satisfied with what had been written about it. I felt like I had to take this on and tell the true story in a respectful, fair and factual way.”

Kading interviewed many retired RCMP officers who had been involved in the case as well as  surviving family members of both fallen officers. She also obtained a redacted copy of the official police file detailing the investigation.

A clipping abut the manhunt from the Winnipeg Free Press dated October 16, 1970

Kading said over the course of her research, particularly through personal interviews, she has developed close friendships and a deep empathy with the people who shared their experiences about the incident.

“As the wife of a policeman, I understand. I live with that fear every day,” she said. “When my husband leaves for his shift, I pray he returns safely.”

Kading said ‘On Scene’ will be issued in a soft cover paperback edition available at bookstores, as well as a digital version available online.

Additional information on Kading and her new book is available online at www.katekading.com .