DRUG TRADE RESPONSIBLE FOR DEATHS OF MOUNTIES

After watching the memorial service held recently in Edmonton for the four
RCMP officers, I felt compelled to write this.

Seeing the fellow officers and families mourning the loss of their sons,
brothers, husbands and fiancee, it could not be described as nothing else
but an utter waste of four young vibrant lives.

I applaud the law enforcement community and the people of Canada, as well as
the American officers, for sharing in the loss of these great men.

I hope and pray that their murders should send a message to all people who
support the drug trade. It is for their illegal drug purchases that caused
these officers to be killed.

Just maybe, someone involved in this drug trade, will see this correlation
and give it up for themselves and for the safety of our law enforcement
community.

I end with a thank you to all law enforcement for protecting us. It is now
that many must do their part and help protect our police by stopping this
industry and continually putting them in harms way.

Jason Hazlett,

Red Deer

Editor's note: Both politicians and the commissioner of the RCMP have backed
away from earlier claims that the shootings had much to do with the few
marijuana plants growing in the killer's quonset.