Thousands of dollars were returned to their rightful owner after being found in the Granville Street parking lot by an off-duty Port Hardy RCMP officer.
“On Oct. 25 at approximately 5:30 p.m., an off-duty member of the Port Hardy Detachment was walking through the parking lot of 8775 Granville Street (Strip Mall along side Market Street) in Port Hardy when he observed a number of $100 and $50 bills laying on the ground,” said Staff Sgt. Wes Olsen, via press release. “The member, Const. Jong Kim, who recently transferred to Port Hardy from Vegreville, Alberta this past September, quickly gathered up the loose money and a nearby envelope as the wind had picked up and was beginning to blow the money around.”
According to Olsen’s press release, Const. Kim immediately notified a co-worker at the Port Hardy Detachment who attended the scene and took possession of the money for safe-keeping.
“There was a significant amount of cash, totalling a few thousand dollars, recovered,” confirmed Olsen, adding, “No report of lost money was made to police on that date or afterward.”
The RCMP made a few community inquiries regarding the money, and on Nov. 8, it was discovered that a local business had lost a large sum of money but did not report it, as “it was thought the money would never be found,” said Olsen. “Upon confirming the found money indeed belonged to the business, police happily returned the lost cash to its rightful owner who was ecstatic to get it back.”
Olsen personally thanked Kim for “his keen observation skills, honesty and integrity in seizing and safeguarding the money so that it could be returned to its rightful owner.” Olsen added that Kim was humble in response to the accolades received from the owners of the lost money and his peers at the detachment.
“Const. Kim has had a positive impact on his co-workers and the community since his arrival and he is a welcome addition to the Port Hardy Team,” stated Olsen.