e-KNOW Editorial

Canadians are once again looking at headlines and hearing news clips about Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers being killed in the line of duty.

Three RCMP officers were shot dead yesterday in Moncton, NB, and two others were wounded, when Justin Bourque, 24, allegedly opened fire on them, after apparently waiting for them in ambush.

It is the worst shooting involving Canadian police officers since four Mounties were slain at Mayerthorpe, Alta. in 2005.

And once again we are reminded of the work peace officers perform on a daily basis and the dangers inherent in that work. We are again reminded of the sacrifices they too often give, with their lives and with their wellbeing.

We are reminded of the sacrifices their families make.

The names of the three slain officers have not yet been released and so it falls that we must look at our own local police officers as the faces to this tragic madness.

As people in Moncton, population 69,000, are saying, “if this can happen here, it can happen anywhere.”

Truer words cannot be spoken.

When madness and evil step from the shadows and lay siege to our society, we look to the RCMP and to other peace officer services to save us.

Society’s favourite whipping boys are also police officers, as they endure the venom and wrath of all who despise them for standing in their way and for simply having the authority to lay down the laws established by a democratic government.

With that ‘power’ comes enormous responsibility, including having to step into harm’s way.

Routine police work is generally more about wiping society’s sniffling nose and cleaning up after the idiocracy than the ‘exciting stuff’ portrayed on television cop shows.

It’s calming down domestic disputes, removing drunks from any variety of situations, asking people to be quiet and civil, taking calls from hysterical people and a myriad of tasks focusing on an end game involving keeping the peace.

Being a cop is seeing every aspect of human behavior, from the very best to the absolute worst.

And the absolute worst has appeared in Moncton, costing three people their lives and perhaps more, as the shooter remains on the loose. Moncton is a terrified and rattled community right now, and it is resonating out across the nation, even down into the United States.

So consider your local Mounties with an eye on the sacrifices they all make, on a shift-by-shift basis, and appreciate them for doing jobs we all have opinions about but most have no concept as to what their lot is really like.

Their lot can include a swift death from a random maniac.

Love, peace and strength to the five officers and their families; and to the community of Moncton.

And love, peace and strength to all our officers; thanks for your service to our communities.

Ian Cobb/e-KNOW

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