Feature -- by Mark Sproxton

Bylaw officer Jim Golbourn enjoys the variety of the job.

Standing in the neighbourhood across from Prince's Island Park holding an electronic sound measuring device, the bylaw officer notes the music hits within the acceptable range. Those in charge of the four-day music festival on the island have made many modifications to equipment and staging to ensure nearby residents have little to complain about. The bylaw officer, however, knows that's not always good enough for some.

"Noise can be difficult because a lot is perception," said Jim Golbourn, special constable with the City of Calgary Bylaw Services. "Sometimes it's just education because there are other issues and they use noise as the (excuse)." With 12 years experience in bylaw, Golbourn has seen pretty much everything imaginable from investigating illegally parked cars, to tracking down sewer system polluters, to dealing with noxious weeds to dealing with animal complaints.

"There's a lot to our job," he said. "You sometimes never know what you're getting into. We're dealing with the same sort of people the police are. We investigate things from the street level crime to the guy who dumps oil into the sewer system. There's a big diversity in what we do." In Calgary, there are about 22 officers in general bylaw and a similar number in animal services. Golbourn said the general section deals with over 20,000 calls a year, but that doesn't include the return, follow-up trips.

Law enforcement calls have long-been a part of Golbourn's life. He spent 14 years with the military police before eventually moving to Calgary, and into bylaw. Over the years he has received hands-on training in specialties such as operating a breathalyser and criminal identification, and has completed courses in areas such as conflict resolution. These long ties to enforcement have also influenced his personal life.

"You can't just go out the door and put the paperwork away and go home at five o'clock," he said. "It becomes part of who you are." But like any job, there are likes and dislikes. "On the like side, you are serving the community and ensuring there's a reasonable quality of life. The biggest dislike is the volume of work. You almost feel like you're on a treadmill. That can be trying but you have to look past that and realize it's the nature of the business."

So is dealing with stress and uncomfortable situations. "You'll have people really in your face yelling and screaming at you for something that's not your fault." Golbourn works 10-hour shifts, four days a week. The days he works and the times of his shifts will vary depending which section of bylaw services he's working -- the general division constables move around -- and what's happening at the time. The constables, who earn around $27 per hour, are also assigned vehicles 24-hours-a-day, which are computer equipped and essentially become their offices.

Those considering a career in bylaw enforcement should have a well-rounded education, formal and informal, good problem solving skills, organizational abilities and be able to work with minimal supervision, Golbourn said. Typically those hired for bylaw positions have had experience in other types of enforcement, from serving as police officers to those working as park rangers.

His advice to others: "Have a good hard look. A lot of people will do it for a while and realize it's not for them. Have a fall-back and something else in your life. Have something else to pursue."