Image Credit: CFJC Today

By Sgt. Joshua Roda, Merritt RCMP

Sound Off

SOUND OFF: After tragic suicide outside detachment, remember the humanity of Merritt RCMP members

Dec 16, 2020 | 8:54 AM

AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, on December 5, 2020 at approximately 4:40 p.m., a major and very tragic incident unfolded in the Rotary Park parking lot, situated right outside the RCMP detachment in Merritt, B.C.

Sadly, a young man lost his life and our officers had to bear witness to this situation as it rapidly evolved. Our hearts hurt with his family and we hope that tragic incidents like this encourage people to reach out for help before it’s too late.

We invite you to click here read the press release from the Independent Investigations Office of BC. (Editor’s Note: You can read CFJC Today’s story on the IIO statement here.)

The public often has the perception that we as the police are essentially bulletproof. That we can go through violent encounters, witness horrible things, that no one should ever have to see, and then simply move on. This could not be further from the truth.

As my colleague often says, “we put our pants on one leg at a time, just like everyone else.” We are people, too. There is no amount of training that someone can receive that would prepare them to witness these unspeakable tragedies or prepare them to be verbally and physically attacked because of the uniform they wear.

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Did most of us know what we signed up for when we joined the mounted police? Yes, of course we did — but that does not make it any easier to deal with.

As police we witness and encounter horrendous things daily and often deal with people on the worst day of their lives. It’s not an easy task and it takes its toll mentally on every police officer that has sworn to serve and protect. We are proud of the supports that are available to our police officers and all employees who unfortunately are directly involved in high stress critical incidents or struggle with the everyday stressors and pressures inherent with policing.

As police officers, and members of the community; our hope is for the public to hold back from casting judgement without facts, and think about those men and women serving their communities that it may affect.

I ask you to please remember that we put our pants on one leg at a time, just like you, and try to serve the public the best way we possibly can.

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Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or the Jim Pattison Broadcast Group.