A NATION MOURNS SLAIN MOUNTIES

Brock Myrol wanted to be a Mountie because he saw "all the good things
I could do for people" as a member of the legendary police force. He
hardly got the chance. On Thursday, after just two weeks on the job,
Myrol was gunned down along with three fellow Mounties in Rochfort
Bridge, Alta., shocking the nation, and plunging it into mourning.

Today, Canadians grieve the loss of Myrol, and constables Anthony
Gordon, Lionide Johnston and Peter Schiemann. They were four decent,
dedicated officers. Our thoughts and prayers go out to their families
and fellow officers.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police Commissioner Giuliano Zaccardelli spoke
for the country when he lamented this "unprecedented and unspeakable
loss." Not since the Riel Rebellion of 1885 have so many Mounties died
in the line of duty. This is a stark reminder of the risks police face
protecting the public. Their courage and service were exemplary.

As Prime Minister Paul Martin has indicated, the nation's first order
of business must be to honour the sacrifice and bravery of those who
fell protecting the public. Flags have been lowered, formal funerals
will be held, heartfelt tribute paid.

And in honouring these men, the RCMP must also honour their memory by
addressing the urgent questions that arise from this tragedy.

While the slayings have cast a spotlight on Canada's burgeoning
marijuana grow ops, the shootings seem to have been the act of one man
who was described as "on the edge" by those who knew him.

Could the raid on James Roszko's farm have been better planned and
carried out? Were the RCMP officers who were investigating a cache of
stolen property and a grow op adequately briefed and equipped to
confront a potentially dangerous man?

Roszko was described as "a wicked devil" by his own father, and as a
"gun nut," a "time bomb" and a police hater by neighbours who feared
him and who say he fired warning shots to keep people away.

He was well known to police and the courts, having been charged for
drug offences, pointing a firearm, assault with a weapon and other
offences. He had been in jail.

Yet despite all this, one RCMP officer was quoted as saying the slain
officers had no reason to believe they were in imminent danger, were
carrying mere sidearms and wearing only light body armour. How could
that possibly be?

And given Roszko's background, and Canada's tough gun laws, how did he
come to have a high-powered rifle?

It is easy to second-guess the police, in these matters. That is not
always wise, or fair. But four good men went out Thursday morning to
uphold the law. Canadians must know why they didn't make it home again.