GET TOUGH ON CRIME, SUPPORT POLICE: PASTORS

'Anger In The Community ... Against Justice System That Has Let Us Down
Again And Again'

MAYERTHORPE -- Local religious leaders are responding to the Mayerthorpe
massacre with calls for tougher treatment of criminals and more support for
rural police detachments.

"There is anger in the community," Arnie Lotholz, the town's Pentecostal
pastor and disaster services director, said Saturday.

The anger is not just directed at James Roszko, the man responsible for the
shooting of four RCMP constables, Lotholz said.

"It's against the justice system that has let us down again and again," he
said, reflecting a common sentiment in Mayerthorpe that Roszko should have
been in jail because of earlier offences. "The community knows that,"
Lotholz said. "They feel frustrated because they've been let down by the
justice system."

Lotholz, who is working on plans with police for a community memorial
service for March 14 or 15, said officers sense they are powerless. "They'd
like to be on the job, to be doing something."

Pastor Wendell Wiebe of Mayerthorpe Baptist church said Roszko "certainly
was a bad guy in many people's books. I'm sure that a lot of people are
happy that at least he's among the dead.

"I've heard people say, 'I hope the guy who did this burns in hell,' "
Wiebe said. "There is that feeling out there."

He added: "This kind of thing will happen again and until we start dealing
with security issues in small towns."

Roszko had a small marijuana grow operation in the Quonset hut where the
four constables -- Lionide Johnston, Brock Myrol, Peter Schiemann and
Anthony Gordon -- were shot dead.

Wiebe said such operations are moving increasingly to rural areas from the
cities and local police need more resources to deal with them.

The two pastors, responsible for half the town's churches, said they will
be discussing the homicides with local congregations during today's services.

As well, at 7 p.m. there is a candlelight remembrance in Whitecourt, 50
kilometres northwest of Mayerthorpe.

Gordon was based in Whitecourt.

The Alexis First Nation, near Mayerthorpe, also plans a service for today.
The reserve in 2003 became the first in Alberta to gain dedicated policing
by aboriginal RCMP officers.

Lotholz said all Mayerthorpe is in mourning, so in his sermon today he will
discuss biblical guidance in dealing with the sense of loss. He said one
relevant passage is in Matthew: "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will
be comforted."

Wiebe said he will discuss I Corinthians 13, on the importance of love. He
wants his congregation to understand "that God loves them."

The Baptist pastor, who is also Mayerthorpe's fire chaplain, said local
firefighters offered backup support for police called to Roszko's farm.
Among them was a junior firefighter from Mayerthorpe high school.

Wiebe wouldn't identify the 18-year-old student but said he "kept it
together" emotionally while the drama was unfolding. "Afterwards, he had to
deal with it. He knew some of the people that were involved."

Wiebe and Lotholz's wife Ruth were at the school Friday to offer
counselling to that student and others.

"Some of them didn't know what to say," Wiebe said. "Like many others, they
were in shock."

Lotholz said there's relief among some residents that Roszko is dead. "He
no longer is there as a threat in the area."

A steady flow of people from the region, including some from Edmonton,
visited the Mayerthorpe RCMP detachment Saturday to place flowers.

An off-duty constable, who did not want to give her name, was moved to see
so many offers of condolence.

"Our whole community is coming together," she said. "I've had people coming
to my house with flowers, people I don't even know."

Mayerthorpe resident Evan Brown and his daughter Alison Brown, from
Edmonton, brought flowers on behalf of their family. "You can't even fathom
what's happening," Evan Brown said. "Our justice system is not severe
enough on criminals. It's a very sad day," he said.