Former CFL player chooses second career as RCMP officer
By Rheanna Philipp
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Judson Mayes and another RCMP officer carry the CFL Grey Cup onto the field during a game in 2002.
Image by Judson Mayes (provided by)
September 5, 2024
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Q&A with Judson Mayes
Retired Corporal Judson Mayes never expected his love of sports would lead him to become a professional football player. But after three years playing with the Canadian Football League (CFL) he made another unexpected pivot and traded his football helmet for an RCMP uniform. Gazette writer Rheanna Philipp sat down with Mayes to discuss his stint with the CFL, how it prepared him to be a great cop, and the challenges he faced getting there.
- How long did you work with the RCMP?
- 15 years! I retired in 2016.
- Did you always want to be a police officer?
- The police force was always something I had interest in. In my high school yearbook, it even said I wanted to be an Edmonton City police officer. But, I had vision issues that needed corrective surgery, and that didn't pan out.
- Why did you decide to pivot to become a professional athlete?
- At a young age I was involved in sports: baseball, football, track-and-field - all those things. In high school I won some medals on the track team and I was approached by the Edmonton Olympic Club team and became a Canadian champion. I went to Boise Sate University in Idaho, and eventually found my niche as a defensive back on the football team.
- In 1980, you were drafted by the Calgary Stampeders. How did it feel to sign with your first team?
- The day I drove to Calgary to sign my contract, Mount St. Helens blew and I was delayed a couple days because of the volcanic ash. But, I eventually made it and I was so excited to sign that contract and be earning a pay cheque!
- Your career with the CFL lasted only three years. Tell me about that.
- Training camp was going great! I got into a couple of pre-season games. But unfortunately, sports is a business. Lo and behold, I get a phone call in the middle of the night that I'm going to be traded to the Saskatchewan Roughriders! I thought, "Ok, well, as long as I'm being picked by another team I'll go with it." Then in 1983, while training with the British Columbia (B.C.) Lions, I was released.
- So, what made you embark on a second career with the RCMP?
- That dream of being on the police force was still there, and one day I met a man who was an RCMP officer, and thought "Cool, I could do that." So, I applied to be an auxiliary RCMP officer. I did that in Spruce Grove for eight years then applied and got accepted to the RCMP full time in 2000.
- Things are different now, but can you tell me about some of the challenges you faced to become a police officer and climb the ranks as a member of a visible minority group?
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The diversity side of things, I guess I didn't let it bother me. I was raised in a manner to rise above it, not let it define me, but be aware of it.
I actually used it to my advantage. When I was posted in Tsay Keh Dene, First Nations community it opened some doors being a person of colour. It helped me break the ice with some of the elders, and be a relatable link for those interested in joining the force.
- Were there skills from football that you were able to bring into your work as a police officer?
- Football is a very demanding physical game that can be stressful at times. I think the discipline that I learned from football and different coaches along the way helped me in in my policing. The sport also developed my attention to detail, and discipline of maintaining my physical and mental health.
- What are some highlights of your RCMP career?
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When I became a full-time RCMP officer, I was selected to be part of a drug team in Stony Plain detachment. There were four of us: three males and one female. We just all had different backgrounds and skill sets. It was a great collection of officers that wanted to make a difference in the Parkland County.
We rocked and rolled and got a lot of drugs off the street; we made a lot of positive changes. We all had fun, but we worked hard.
Another highlight, was getting tickets to a CFL game as a Saskatchewan Roughrider alumnus. I was at Depot at the time, and took 23 of my troopmates and facilitators to a great football game. I was also able to support policing operations for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. Both were full circle moments.
- What would you say to someone considering a career in policing?
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If you're looking for a variety of work, and open to a life of excitement and enjoyment, it may be the right career path. I firmly believe, it's not just a job, it's a calling.
If you feel led to serve, help people, and be a problem solver, policing will open your eyes. It'll make you cry. It'll make you laugh. It'll make you happy, and make you sad — but at the end of the day, it's a great opportunity to grow in so many ways. If you're considering joining the force, go in heads up and eyes wide open and be ready to serve.
Audio story: Judson Mayes
Transcript - Audio story: Judson Mayes
Judson Mayes: Actually, it was April 1, when I got a call and said that I had been accepted and I thought this is somebody playing a joke on me, is this April fool's day. As it turned out, I was fortunate, I was going to Depot.
Narrator: Long before Judson Mayes answered the call that launched his RCMP career, he was an accomplished Canadian athlete. It was May 18, 1980. Mayes had just completed his studies at Boise State University. He was in the first leg of a 13 hour drive north from Boise, Idaho to Calgary, Alberta. Mayes was on his way to sign a contract with the CFL's Calgary Stampeders. That's when the volcano erupted. It was Mount St. Helens standing just over 400 km south of the Canadian border. Mayes watched the sky fill with smoke and the highways come to a crawl. He pulled off to a rest stop to make a call.
Judson Mayes: I can remember calling back to Calgary and telling the coaches that I'm not able to make it on the scheduled time. But give me a couple days to get back.
Narrator: Judson Mayes grew up in Edmonton, Alberta. At a very young age he succeeded in all thing's sports, but it wasn't until high school that he discovered his real talent as a runner. After a long day at a high school track meet, 16-year-old Mayes headed home with his running shoes in hand. He was soon scouted by the Edmonton Olympic Club's track and field team.
Judson Mayes: We trained and practiced four nights a week and as a young person, it shows some dedication to be able to go to practice four nights a week and then to see results.
Narrator: Mayes would spend his high school years traveling around Canada competing in track and field events, making a name for himself as a young athlete.
Judson Mayes: I was approached by a by two universities, university of Idaho, which is in Pocatello, and Boise state university in Idaho. After high school, I chose to go to Boise state.
Narrator: He attended Boise State on a track scholarship, garnering success and becoming known as a Canadian champion. One afternoon during his regularly scheduled track practices he found himself distracted by the football team. Both the track and football teams practiced next to each other throughout the training season. He wondered what it would be like to be a part of their practices. He had played a little football in high school, but could never fully devote his time because of track.
Judson Mayes: I thought I would try out for the football team at Boise state. I was a walk on, and of course having speed I was able to hold my own and was successful.
Narrator: After trying out a few positions, Mayes found his niche as a defensive back. They are the quickest members of the defensive unit, responsible for preventing long pass plays that take place farther downfield from the linebackers. Mayes' speed made him an asset. It wasn't long before someone took notice of him.
Judson Mayes: So, in 1980 I was drafted by the Calgary stampeders.
Narrator: His performance at Boise State U earned him a contract with the CFL, and the opportunity to come back to his home province of Alberta. His time with the Stampeders was short lived. Mayes had only played in a few preseason games before he got the call telling him he was being transferred to the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Throughout his three-year CFL career, Mayes played for the Calgary Stampeders, the Saskatchewan Roughriders and the BC lions. Eventually he decided to start a family and move back to Edmonton with his wife. Shortly after moving, he met someone who would change the trajectory of his career.
Judson Mayes: He said he worked for the federal government. I thought the federal government. That's a big, big outfit. What do what do you mean? So, he took me aside and told me that he was an RCMP officer. I said, cool, I said that's something I'd always had an interest in was the police force - even in high school, my high school yearbook said I wanted to be an Edmonton city police officer but that never panned out. Unfortunately, I had to get corrective eye surgery.
Narrator: Mayes was unable to become an RCMP officer due to his need for corrective eye surgery. He decided instead to become an RCMP auxiliary officer for Spruce Grove, Alberta. Auxiliary Officers are unarmed and do not hold rankings within the police force. He initially approached the larger detachment of Stony Plain but his efforts weren't successful. At that time Mayes was told there were designated visible minority positions and they were all filled. For the next 8 years, Mayes worked as an auxiliary officer in Spruce, Grove. While he was happy with the work he was doing he still had a dream to become an RCMP officer. Eventually, he got his eyes corrected and was finally able to apply to Depot.
Judson Mayes: I thought that this is something that I wanna do. You know, I was getting up there in age, but I thought there still had that desire. So, I applied to put in my papers to become a member of the of the Mounties. And in 2000, I was successful and was fortunate enough to be selected.
Narrator: Mayes graduated September 5, 2000, and was selected as the right marker for his troop, a position of honor, acting as the liaison between the troop and facilitators.
Judson Mayes: There was 23 of us, and we were 23 in and 23 out and it was an incredible experience that I will never forget. But I can honestly say that because of the disciplines and the regiment of athletics, it helped me to become a Mountie. It was a career that I thoroughly enjoyed and loved so very much. I still have a great respect for the Mounties and the job they do. It's a different game now.
Narrator: RCMP officers have carried the Grey Cup onto the field at the league championship games in a tradition that dates back many years. Mayes was asked to carry out the cup with a fellow female officer, on November 24, 2002. It was the 90th Grey Cup championship game, the Edmonton Eskimos and the Montreal Alouettes were competing. During the opening ceremony Mayes stood proudly with the Grey Cup in his arms. He was carrying out the championship cup in his home town, Edmonton, Alberta.
Judson Mayes: That was quite an honour for me to be at that, in my full-dress uniform and to carry the cup out. That was quite an honour for me, you know having close ties with the CFL and football. And to be able to do that was, was a highlight in my Mountie career definitely.
Narrator: Mayes held a variety of positions throughout his RCMP career. Notably, he was promoted in summer of 2012 to British Columbia's most isolated post, Tsay Keh Dene. Here he became detachment commander. Detachment commander, Corporal Judson Mayes retired proudly from the RCMP in 2016…but still cherishes his memories both on the field and on the force.
