Pubdate: Sat, 05 Mar 2005 Source: Barrie Examiner (CN ON) Copyright: 2005, Osprey Media Group Inc. Contact: http://www.thebarrieexaminer.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2317 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/Rochfort+Bridge (Rochfort Bridge) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/opinion.htm (Opinion) COPS GIVE US PEACE OF MIND The shooting deaths of four RCMP officers in Alberta on Thursday shows just how dangerous policing has become in Canada. Police officers investigating any facet of illegal activity put their lives on the line, every time. And while it isn't always this tragic, the potential always exists. These four slain Mounties were killed after a raid on a marijuana grow operation near Rochfort Bridge, a village of about 60 people some 130 kilometres northwest of Edmonton. They were apparently shot by single gunman, who reportedly then took his own life. The four Mounties were just guarding the scene, RCMP officials said, when they were all shot and killed. This really isn't about the dangers of marijuana growing operations, which Ontario residents have also become all too familiar with in recent years. Or stiffer penalties for producing illegal drugs or for trafficking it or even legalizing marijuana. For that matter, it isn't about gun control either (although it might be once more details emerge about what happened and why). Being a police officer on a municipal force, with provincial police or the RCMP is a dangerous way to make a living. There's nothing routine about the profession, not ever. Citizens, along with the media, often wonder if police don't over-react to situations. Streets are blocked off, SWAT teams called and information is scarce during incidents which seem like they could be handled by police two officers and a cruiser. But police respond to incidents in the way they do to protect not only public safety, but their officers as well. It's also worth noting that this is why trained police officers are needed for all aspects of law enforcement, including traffic. Those who enforce the laws are always potentially in peril, because there will always be those who refuse to believe the law applies to them. That's why police officers must be trained, armed and protected by the best equipment available -- such as bulletproof vests. But even that's not always enough. At first glance the RCMP deaths in Alberta seem to indicate that something is missing from the picture. How could four Mounties be caught off-guard like this? Was the shooter hiding or had he snuck back onto the property? Why weren't police more aware that this danger existed? There's no exact police blueprint, however, for dealing with these type of situations. There are just too many unknowns, too many factor that cannot be controlled under any circumstances. Marijuana grow operations, for example, have the potential to generate millions of dollars. Their operators already don't respect the law. They also don't appreciate having their livelihood taken away, and their new home a jail cell. RCMP officers were involved in delivering news of this new reality to an Alberta man on Thursday morning, and they paid for it with their lives. Policing is that black and white, that dangerous, in Canada. Police officers of all stripes face that danger every day in this country. It doesn't always result in this level of tragedy, but it always can. That's something for Canadians to remember the next time they're home and feeling safe. Police officers are one reason, maybe the most important one. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake