Why one RCMP officer wants to 'make a difference' one traffic tweet at a time

Working with P.E.I. RCMP for the past 17 years, Const. Jamie Parsons says he's been witness to some truly head-scratching moments while on patrol.

Nowthrough the RCMP's traffic Twitter account, @RCMPPEITraffic,he'sinfusing a little humour intoteachable moments he haswhile on the job.

"Anybody that knows me knows that I like to have a bit of fun with my conversations. I think by adding a little humour to the tweets it garners more interest from the public, my followers," Parsons said.

The RCMP's traffic account had about 15,600 followers as of Wednesday evening.

"I think my passion comes from the early stages ... in my career. I attended a few serious motor vehicle collisions where people had passed," Parsons said.

"I've been to some collisions where I've witnessed people take their last breaths before passing. Most of those collisions were due to impaired driving or speed."

Watch Const. Jamie Parsons' interview on CBCNews: Compass:

The voice behind @RCMPPEITraffic

5 years ago

Duration 5:48

Const. Jamie Parsons, who tweets at the RCMP PEI Traffic Twitter account, is known for sending out important messages injected with a little humour. He joins CBC News: Compass host Louise Martin.

It's moments like those that compelled him to want to "make a difference" in the lives of Islanders,he said.

"I kind of find some comfort in my tweets, actually. because I know when I send out the tweets, especially the ... educational ones about drinking and driving or driving aggressively,I feel that I'm doing a bit extra."

There have also been some perplexing moments, including encountering Islanders trying to surf on top of their cars and then there was the bathtub.

"The craziest thing I ever [saw]was, during a snowstorm while I'm patrolling Montague, an individual being towed behind a pickup truck in a bathtub on snow-covered streets," he said.

Parsons said he's just happy to have the opportunity to keep in touch with Islanders and keep them informed.

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