THREE POLICE OFFICERS KILLED. A TRUBUTE
By Chris Voller
Three police officers have been killed in the last two weeks.
Three more have been shot and are recovering in hospital.
Four of these attacks happened in the last 24 hours.
This is Canada. This should not feel normal. But for police officers, and for the first responder community, this is becoming the reality we are living.
We are a quiet and private community. We keep close to our families, friends, colleagues, and neighbours. We do not often speak publicly about what this job takes from us.
And yes, many of us have trust issues.
With good reason.
Too often, police officers are used when it is convenient. Our deaths become political capital. Our funerals become photo opportunities. When we are alive, we are criticized, blamed, underfunded, second guessed, and dragged through the media.
When we ask for better laws, better equipment, better staffing, better support, and real consequences for violent offenders, too many in power are silent.
Then one of us is killed, and suddenly everyone finds the words.
These officers were killed because they stood between a threat and someone else’s community. They went toward danger so others would not have to.
The officers now in hospital are being called “lucky” because they survived. That is a terrible standard for luck.
I have been a police officer for 18 years. This job has never been easy, but it is becoming increasingly dangerous. It is hard not to see the connection between weaker laws, weaker courts, fewer consequences, and decisions made by people who do not have to live with the outcomes.
They experiment with public safety from a distance.
Police officers, families, friends, colleagues, and communities pay the price up close.
Canada needs to recalibrate.
To the officers we have lost, we will honour you.
To the officers recovering, we are with you.
To every police officer still showing up tomorrow, your service matters, your life matters, and your country should be doing far more to protect you.
https://www.facebook.com/chris.voller.cop
This is a tragedy that could have been prevented. My thoughts and prayers are with the officer and the civilian's family and friends. Hank Idsinga discusses these issues in his "The High Road, Confessions of a Homicide Cop" his 34 years with Toronto Police Service. Mr. Idsinga discusses the agency's racism and favourtism which is consuming the department.