Ottawa Sun
Published: Saturday, March 12, 2005

Thank a police officer today

In the next seven days you have one extra task to take on, personally thank a cop for his or her public service.

On Thursday the nation came together in Edmonton, and in mirror ceremonies across the country, to mourn the deaths and honour the ultimate sacrifice of four slain Mounties. It was the worst single incident loss of life suffered by the famed force in 120 years. Four good young men-- Peter Schiemann, 25, Anthony Gordon, 28, Brock Myrol, 29, and Leo Johnston, 32 -- all gave their lives in the line of duty for our country.

While there were comforting words from the prime minister and others about not forgetting their sacrifice, the sad reality is that by the end of next week the overwhelming majority of Canadians won't give this loss a second thought. And less than a month from today, I'd be willing to bet that a listing of their four names during a person-on-the-street interview would draw blank stares and and "I dunno" from 95 out of 100 people asked.

Such is the reality of life, it goes on for those of us not personally affected by this tragedy. But damnit, this simply isn't good enough for a so-called compassionate nation. And it will be a spectacle of extreme disrespect for the women and men across this country who put on a police uniform each day, whether it is for the RCMP, OPP or a local police force.

Think about what cops across this country are asked to do. Each workday we ask them to put on a uniform and, for an average salary of $40,000 to $50,000, potentially put their bodies in front of bullets in a botched armed robbery. We ask them to investigate domestic disturbances that may end violently with an officer taking a knife in the neck instead of the intended victim.

We ask them to take down grow-ops and drug factories -- often times run by organized crime -- and no matter how well armed our cops may be, the scum sucking societal dirt bags that profit from this illegality seem to always have even more firepower. We ask them to check up on the punks in the park making noise very late on a hot summer night, not knowing if the punks are stoned and wired to the moon and ready to swarm two officers.

We ask them to come to our doors and notify us if a cherished love on has been killed by a drunk driver or road raged executive who was late for a meeting. We ask them to kiss their spouses and kids goodbye before leaving for each shift, knowing that they run the greatest risk amongst all of us of not returning home.

We ask them to uphold our laws and catch society's trash bins -- pornographers, pimps, drug dealers, child molesters -- when our laws are contravened only to have a justice system (and a climate fostered by three decades of criminals-are-the-real-victims political cowardice) which often lets the law breakers back on the street to commit even more heinous acts. We ask them to assist third-world countries in turmoil and transition with setting up their own police forces.

And in return, what do these cops do?

They volunteer at local community centres to try and help troubled youth chose a proper path in life.

They come into our schools to teach our kids about being safe, secure and street aware in the 21st century.

They sponsor sports teams in communities across the country. And they keep us safe at sporting events and concerts while we take a break from our work lives.

Not every police officer is perfect, no one is. However,we really should offer more respect than we do to our nation's finest who keep the peace here at home. So let me finish where I started: In the next seven days you have one extra task to take on, personally thank a cop for his or her public service.

For all they do, it is the least that you can do.