Graeme Cumming joined the RCMP on November 13, 1981, intent on a career in law enforcement, where he could advance his life long desire of serving his country and helping people in need.  He quickly adapted to his peace officer role in enthusiastic fashion, and placed high priority on traffic law enforcement.  Impaired drivers were a target, due to the carnage they created on the Alberta Highways that Graeme policed.

Throughout Cpl. Cumming's 17 years of service with the Force, At Gleichen, Medicine Hat Highway Patrol, Fairview, Fort McMurray, Airdrie, and Lethbridge, he was credited with his solid work ethic and his productivity, specifically as it related to self generated enforcement.  At Airdrie, he was noted to have possessed ten times the unit norm of impaired drivers.  When promoted to Cpl. At Lethbridge Detachment in August, 1996, over and above his supervisory duties, Graeme still found time to patrol the highways, enforcing the law of the land.

An ironic twist occurred on August 12, 1998, that would see Cpl. Cumming fall victim to the carnage he so emphatically tried to prevent through his many years of enforcement initiatives.  At 1640 hrs. Cpl. Cumming responded to a report of hay bales spilled on Highway # 2, two kilometers west of Kipp, Alberta.  He positioned his police car in the left-hand lane of the double highway to protect westbound traffic from the spill, and to direct traffic to the right, around his vehicle.  At approximately 1700 hrs., Cst. Sylvain Jolicoeur of Claresholm/Nanton Detachment came upon the scene of an accident involving two semi trailers and the police vehicle operated by Cpl. Cumming.  Investigation revealed Cpl. Cumming was struck from behind by a loaded semi trailer truck.  The police cruiser was pushed into the first trailer that was stopped on the highway, and both the semi trailer and police vehicle burst into flames.  Seated in the police vehicle were Cpl. Cumming and the driver of the semi trailer whose load had spilled onto the highway, Mr. Daniel Entz, of Lethbridge.  Both Cpl. Cumming and Daniel Entz were killed by the impact.  The driver of the second semi, Darren Roderick Buckley, was convicted on April 13, 1999, of two counts of Impaired Driving Causing Death, sentenced to a 32 month gaol term and a 5 year driving prohibition.

Cpl. Cumming's passing, in such a tragic and senseless manner, struck hard on his family, fellow officers, friends and the general public.  The deepest loss felt was by his wife of 12 years, Cst. Marina Cumming, who currently serves at Airdrie Detachment.