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Officers' deaths sober reminder of police reality

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The rolling hills, rich farmland and thick mixed forest of west-central Saskatchewan seem more a piece of paradise than the scene of horror it has become over the past few days. But the deaths of RCMP constables Robin Cameron and Marc Bourdages over the weekend are a reminder that even in paradise, whenever peace officers put on their uniforms and strap on their sidearms, they and their families take the ultimate risk for their communities. And the unfortunate lesson from Spiritwood this week is that the risks can transcend even the enormous courage, strength of character and honour for which these two officers were known.

It is understandable that people from the community and across Canada demand to know how it can be that the suspect in this case is someone who made no bones about his hatred for police and known by his neighbours as a "bad-ass" to be avoided still was able to acquire a gun. Long before the Liberals dreamed up the foolish gun registry, Canada's gun laws were designed to separate the weapons from those who showed just such dangerous behaviour.

And although 41-year-old Curtis Dagenais and his father, Arthur, both have had frequent run-ins with the law, threatened retaliation against officers and long histories of family violence, lawmakers and justice officials seemed impotent to do anything to curtail their danger until the two officers were shot.

One would have thought the death last year of four RCMP officers in Mayerthorpe, Alta., at the hands of a similarly volatile individual would have provided the incentive to give police greater powers to disarm those who are considered dangerous.

It is one thing to pass laws that unnecessarily invade the rights of those who have never shown themselves to be a danger. It seems more difficult, however, to demand of those who have a history of violence and have threatened law officials that they surrender all weapons and subject themselves to occasional searches to prove they haven't illegally acquired any more guns.

In the wake of the multiple murders in Mayerthorpe, Canada's top police officer, RCMP Commissioner Giuliano Zaccardelli, and Solicitor-General Harvey Cenaiko of Alberta both blamed the deaths on drug trafficking and organized crime. This even though Jim Roszko, the 46-year-old man involved in the Mayerthorpe slaying, was more like a Dagenais than a mobster.

Immediately after the Alberta killings, the RCMP clamped down on information about its handling of the case and on members who spoke out about the mistakes that were made.

Had the force and the politicians looked closer at finding ways to deal with violent people such as Roszko rather than try to score political points with the public, better equipment and procedures may have been available to help protect front-line officers.

But even with refined procedures, the risk to those who stand up for the rest of us always will be there. Long before he became infamous in connection with these murders, Curtis Dagenais had acquired a reputation for being dangerous. So much so that the union representing Saskatchewan's highway traffic officers had requested permission to carry sidearms for fear Dagenais would act on his threats against them.

This reputation, by the way, speaks to the courage of Cameron, Bourdages and a third officer involved in the chase that ended in the ambush. In their desire to protect their community and -- in this case quite literally -- defend their neighbours, they chased after a violent man in full knowledge of his reputation.

The courage of these officers was reflected in the strength and dignity their families demonstrated as they announced the deaths of their loved ones. It is difficult to imagine how Bourdages's wife Natasha Szpakowski, still an RCMP officer, and Cameron's father Howard, who was a member of the force, could find the strength to break to the country the news it was dreading. Both not only understood the risks their loved ones took each day but also the sacrifice made by the families of those who serve their community.

For those of us who live under the safety umbrella provided by the country's police, it is worth remembering the dangers they face, even in paradise.