SENSE OF LOSS FELT ACROSS THE COUNTRY

The shooting death of four RCMP officers in Mayerthorpe, Alberta last week
sent shockwaves through detachments across the country, including the one
in Oceanside.

Staff Sergeant Bill van Otterloo says the news elicited an outpouring of
grief amongst the officers.

"There are a lot of different emotions," he says. "You have to remember
that we are all family and we had a lot of different connections to the
fellows who were killed. Several of our members were in training with a
couple of the members who were killed, so they knew them personally. You
get quite close after training together for five and a half months."

He said the detachment chaplain has been counselling some of the officers
in the wake of the tragedy.

The four officers were killed during an investigation into a marijuana
growing operation near the Alberta town of 1,570 Thursday.

According to reports, the officers were caught by surprise by a gunman,
identified as James Rozsko, 46, while guarding a large quonset hut where
the grow operation was located.

S/Sgt. van Otterloo says the killings brought the dangers of the job close
to home for the local detachment, who also have to deal with marijuana grow
operations from time to time.

"It really brings it to the forefront how grow ops and those types of
operations are dangerous," he says. "They're in our community. We know
that. Everybody knows they are, and the fact is that what happened there
could have happened anywhere. We have to be aware of that."

The outpouring of grief in the detachment has been mirrored, he says, by a
corresponding outpouring if support from the community. "People have
stopped our people on the street and come to the office to give us their
condolences and kind words, and it's extremely appreciated," van Otterloo
says. "People are bringing flowers and cards to the office and I want to
acknowledge that."

He notes that the detachment would have a book of condolences at the front
counter as of Monday for members of the public to sign. The book would
accompany any of the detachment members who attend the memorial ceremony
for the slain four. He says he expects members from across the country to
attend the ceremony, including from Oceanside.

"This is just a sad day across Canada, particularly in every detachment,"
he says. "There, but for the grace of God, go I."