Pubdate: Wed, 28 Sep 2005
Source: Mayerthorpe Freelancer (CN AB)
Copyright: 2005 The Freelancer
Contact:  http://www.mayerthorpefreelancer.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/733
Author: Sorcha McGinnis
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Roszko (James Roszko)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

FAMILIES LIGHT THE WAY FOR CHANGE

Albertans Encouraged To Bring Light To Justice Reform By Turning On Their 
Porch Lights 8 To10 P.M. Oct. 3

A young widow angry her sons will grow up without a father broke her 
silence at a ceremony honouring peace officers killed in the line of duty 
with a strong call for action.

Kim Gordon, whose husband Const. Anthony Gordon and three fellow RCMP 
officers were shot dead March 3, spoke out Sunday for the first time 
publicly on the need for tougher sentences for criminals and stricter 
marijuana laws.

"We needed to grieve first and now we want to take some action,"said Gordon 
yesterday.

She joined approximately 1,500 people -- including hundreds of officers 
from police services across the province -- gathered on the legislature 
grounds for the annual ceremony to honour fallen police and peace officers.

They joined 4,000 others in Ottawa, where a similar ceremony was held on 
Parliament Hill.

Led by pipers, a sombre parade of officers marched onto the grounds where 
the names of 90 men and women who have died since 1876 were read.

Six news names were added to the roll call, including constables Leo 
Johnston, Brock Myrol and Peter Schiemann.

Gordon, a registered nurse left alone to raise her children Spencer, 3, and 
infant Anthony, said her husband had strong feelings about marijuana, a 
drug he believed led to "a path of destruction." At the time of their 
deaths, the officers were guarding a small marijuana grow operation on 
gunman James Roszko's property near Mayerthorpe.

She said her husband often despaired he did not have all the legal tools 
necessary to do his job.

"He and many of his colleagues felt their efforts were wasted by the time 
criminal charges were disposed of. Whether it was plea bargains, thrown-out 
charges or minimal sentencing, he felt his job, that of putting the bad guy 
away, couldn't be accomplished," she said.

Her thoughts were echoed by Brock Myrol's father, Keith Myrol, who urged 
judges to be stricter with sentencing, and for parole board officers to 
keep offenders behind bars longer.

"Start penalizing these violent animals for what they have done," he said.

The families are asking Canadians to show their support for these reforms 
by leaving their front porch lights on from 8 to 10 p.m. on Oct.3. 
Conservative justice critic Vic Toews applauded the families' efforts. He 
said his party continues to fight for an end to conditional sentences for 
violent or repeat offenders, and a return to earned, as opposed to 
mandatory, parole.

He also said everyone convicted of a violent offence should have a period 
of parole tacked on to the end of their prison sentence.
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