‘The police community has suffered a huge loss’

RCMP Const. Michael Potvin, who was last seen swimming toward the banks of the Stewart River near Mayo earlier this month, is presumed to have drowned, police said today.

RCMP Const. Michael Potvin, who was last seen swimming toward the banks of the Stewart River near Mayo earlier this month, is presumed to have drowned, police said today.

“It is with regret that I acknowledge that despite all efforts to locate Const. Potvin ... the reality is that we do not expect to find him alive,” Chief Supt. Peter Clark, commanding officer for the Yukon’s RCMP, told a news conference this morning in Whitehorse.

Clark said the best advice they can get from their RCMP experts and the expertise and knowledge of the local community “is that past persons who have been lost in that portion of the Stewart River, on occasion, have not been found – ever.”

Potvin, 26, had recently been transferred to the Mayo detachment from Watson Lake, where he had served his first six months with the RCMP.

“The loss of Const. Mike Potvin is tragic, and has been extremely difficult for all concerned. Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with his wife, their families and the people impacted by this tragedy,” said Clark.

“Certainly, the police community has suffered a huge loss in the Yukon.”

A memorial service for Potvin will be held on Aug. 4 at Saint Patrick’s Basilica on Nepean Street in Ottawa. The young officer was originally from an Ottawa Valley town.

Potvin’s wife, who is seven months pregnant, is currently in the Ottawa area with family members.

Clark said the RCMP plan to work with Potvin’s family to hold a service in the Yukon, but the time and location are yet to be determined.

Meanwhile, the search for Potvin continues.

The RCMP are now looking for the continued help of the community and the users of the river, but RCMP members will conduct occasional patrols of the area.

“I don’t envision the search ever being formally called off,” said Clark.

Potvin disappeared July 13 after the police riverboat he was in capsized.

He and an unnamed corporal from the Mayo detachment had taken the boat out on a maintenance run when it began taking on water.

Neither Potvin nor the other officer was wearing a life jacket, but the personal flotation devices were in the boat.

However, Potvin was wearing his duty belt, which can weigh more than 20 lbs.

While the other officer stayed with the floundering boat and was later rescued, Potvin attempted to swim to shore.

Witnesses, as well as the other officer, saw Potvin in the water and described him as “swimming strongly,” said Clark.

When Potvin suddenly submerged and didn’t resurface, witnesses sounded the alarm.

“At that point, the river is over 20 feet deep and has some strong and ever-changing currents,” said Clark.

It didn’t take long for the entire community of Mayo and the First Nation to be aware of the incident and “countless residents responded,” said Clark.

They put boats in the water, walked the banks and even provided accommodation and food to those involved in the search.

“The community was absolutely outstanding; not only in their efforts to find Const. Potvin, but to support to the RCMP members that were there,” said Clark.

Despite these efforts, the likelihood of finding Potvin on the surface was “increasingly small,” he added.

A dive team from B.C. was called in to scour the river bed. They used sonar technology that was powerful enough to find long-lost rubber tires and other items, but it was evident Potvin was not in the area.

The divers have completed their portion of the search, which has entered a new phase.

Numerous investigations into the tragedy continue, including an RCMP review of the entire marine program in the Yukon to ensure their vessels meet the standards of safety that are appropriate, said Clark.