The images that poured across television screens on Monday from St. Albert, Alta. were sadly all too familiar.
Thousands of RCMP officers, police officers, first responders, firefighters, paramedics, family and friends paid their respects to fallen 42-year-old RCMP Const. David Wynn, who was one of two officers gunned down at a casino on Jan. 17 while investigating a case of a stolen truck.
Auxiliary Const. Derek Bond, 49, is still recovering from his injuries.
In a separate case, Cpl. Jean-Rene Michaud is also recovering from injuries he sustained in December when he was shot responding to a call in Kamloops.
Canadians are still grieving the three officers shot and killed and two others severely injured in June 2014 in Moncton, N.B. And we can’t forget the images of the soldier at his sentry post in front of the Parliament buildings in Ottawa who was shot and killed in an act of possible terrorism late last year that shook this country to the core.
What is the connection between all these incidents? For one, lives were lost senselessly and needlessly. No one should wake up in the morning, say goodbye to their loved ones, go to work and not make it back home at night.
All of these men were just doing their jobs, and they paid the ultimate price and sacrifice.
I think far too many times we forget the men and women who have the job of protecting us. We sometimes take for granted our RCMP, our military, our first responders. We don’t appreciate the hard jobs they have. We don’t appreciate the sacrifices they make on a daily basis putting their own lives at risk in the protection of others.
When I was working in Squamish with our sister newspaper The Chief from 1999 to 2003, I had the pleasure to strike up both a professional and personal relationship with RCMP Const. Wael Audi.
At age 29, Audi was a five-year member of the RCMP when he was killed in a car accident on Highway 99 north of Squamish in 2002. He was on duty at the time in an unmarked police vehicle. He slowed down his vehicle and activated his emergency lights in order to make a U-turn to go after a violator, when tragedy struck. A limo following Audi came to a stop, but a bus travelling behind the limo did not stop, and instead went around both vehicles where it T-boned Audi’s car. The impact was so great, Audi was thrown to the passenger side of the vehicle; his injuries so severe, he never recovered.
Audi had a heart of gold, was involved in many youth programs in Squamish, active in the DARE program and founded a youth/RCMP volleyball league.
I covered his regimental funeral where some 500 first responders from all over the province attended. There wasn’t a dry eye in the gymnasium — including mine. I think of my friend Wael often — even more so with these recent incidents involving other RCMP officers killed in the line of duty.
Thank you all for your service — and your sacrifice.
