POLICE CHIEFS ACROSS NATION SHARE SORROW

Vancouver's Jamie Graham Just One of Senior Officers to Express Their
Sympathies Over the Loss of Lives

Vancouver Chief Constable Jamie Graham was one of many chiefs of
police across Canada who expressed their sympathies Friday to the
families and communities of the four RCMP officers killed in northern
Alberta.

"I wanted to express as other senior police executives have in various
parts of Canada, our utmost sympathies and deepest sorrows to the
families and the communities affected by this tragic loss," he said.

"One can only imagine what these officer's families are going through
as they prepare for . . . the upcoming funerals."

"I can't recall in my tenure in policing where this number of police
officers had been killed all at one time. That even adds to the loss
and the grief we are all feeling."

Victoria Chief Paul Battershill said all marijuana growing operations
are potentially dangerous.

"These are not mom and pop who are growing a few plants," he said.
"These are wide-scale organized crime events and they are dangerous
and they're dangerous to the public.

"They are dangerous to some electrician showing up to repair a panel
if it has been booby-trapped and they're dangerous to some kid
knocking on the door if there is a paranoid guy guarding it with a
gun."

In Saskatoon, Chief Russell Sabo said news of the deaths brought
memories to mind of the many officers with whom he has served over the
years, as well as the risks they all take in the line of duty.

"When I heard about the tragedy of the loss of those four RCMP
officers . . . my heart went out to them," he said. "We are appalled
at the loss of life in such a tragic way."

In Ottawa, Chief Vince Bevin sent a message of condolence to RCMP
Commissioner Giuliano Zaccardelli, whom he considers a close friend.

"As a police leader, you would dread to ever be in that situation and
my thoughts go out to [assistant commissioner] Bill Sweeney [Alberta's
top RCMP officer] and the commissioner."

In St. John's, Nlfd., Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Chief Richard
Deering called for a minute of silence at a press conference while
responding to news of the slayings.

"What a sad day it is in the policing community, particularly the RCMP
community," Deering said of the officers' deaths.

In Halifax, RCMP Assistant Commissioner Ian Atkins called the deaths
"a profound loss shared by all RCMP officers and law enforcement
colleagues."

In Montreal, staff at the city's RCMP headquarters observed a moment
of silence.

"They're colleagues -- even if they're far away. The RCMP is a big
family," said Cpl. Steven LeBlanc, outside the building on Dorchester
Blvd., where the Canadian flag flew at half-staff.

In Laval, Que., Deputy Chief Serge Belisle said: "We're always
saddened when police, regardless of where they're from, die in
circumstances as tragic as this."

Tony Cannavino, president of the Canadian Professional Police
Association, which represents 54,000 police personnel across the
country, said their professional community is in shock.

"I've been a police officer for 32 years. And each time one of our
officers is killed, it devastates us," Cannavino said.