The perfect cop was 6' 3", a bomb dispoal expert, fit, combat trrained, tested under fire, a proven leader - and one helluva dressmaker.

John Wilbert Hodgins, 84, retired Ottawa police sergeant, rocks with laughter at the way he is remembered for his sewing skills. The Ottawa Police Association, starting at noon March 14, will honour him as a founder, and if they want to tease him about his sewing, he'll demand equal time to brag about it.

In 1946, after a full and active war, he and wife Florence (Cole) were among the first to move into the Mann Avenue project. A sewing machine salesman knocked on the door. During a demonstration, the machine quit. Let me try, said Ottawa's new police officer. He opened the hood and fiddled with the guts and fixed it.

To continue this story read further in September 2007's Scotian.