Seattle’s only parade with an international police presence

(WSB photos by Patrick Sand)

It wasn’t all about the wheels for the Vancouver B.C. Police Motorcycle Drill Team‘s annual visit to ride in the West Seattle Grand Parade. In The Junction, where the riding ended for Vancouver and their Seattle Police counterparts, there was time to get up close and personal. Not just with the fans.

There were a lot of special things about Saturday.

VPD is celebrating its centennial. SPD, we’re told, has someone retiring.

Also seen on the route, though not with a motorcycle, Southwest Precinct commander Capt. Pierre Davis.

And the “other” two-wheeled SPD officers:

P.S. West Seattle’s parade is the only one outside Canada in which the Vancouver team participates.

Ken July 22, 2018 (4:41 am)

Does anyone happen to know the backstory of why Vancouver chose West Seattle? They have participated for as long as I can remember, but I’ve never known why. Wonder if perhaps one of their officers had some connection to someone in West Seattle in years past?

Kate July 22, 2018 (7:32 am)

I’m curious too!
Jim July 22, 2018 (7:57 am)

My understanding is they were regular guests at the Seafair Parade. They were asked not to participate because the uniforms of the day were too military looking. (For an example of what I mean, do an image search for New Jersey State Police) As has happened before in the case of the Seafair Pirates Landing, West Seattle organizers reached out to them and welcomed them to our parade.
- Ken July 23, 2018 (8:29 pm)
  
  Thanks for the reply Jim. That actually makes sense. And now that you mentioned it, I seem to vaguely recall watching them at the beginning of the Torchlight Parade when I was a kid.
- Calires July 23, 2018 (10:11 pm)
  
  Oh my goodness. I fled here from a very right wing place and I’m thrilled to not have to deal with that horror any longer, but Seattle “progressive” craziness gets to me almost as much.

Sorry, comment time is over.