A recent event in our corner of the world has been alarming and disturbing, and has shaken our community.
On February 7, 2012 RCMP from Killam Detachment attended a rural residence to execute a search warrant for a .45 calibre handgun. An exchange of gunfire ensued, resulting in two officers being wounded, one civilian deceased at the scene, and a suspect currently being sought by police.
Having this happen in our community has rocked our world.
For starters, the two wounded officers are well known in the area; they are our friends & neighbors, and there is tremendous concern & support for them & their families. Thankfully, it appears they will recover from their physical injuries, and I know we as a community will stand with them as they try to get back to living a normal life.
Additionally, the colleagues of these two constables – the other members of Killam Detachment – had to continue their work to bring this crisis to a peaceful conclusion, and for awhile did not know the condition of the wounded officers. The stress on these men & women and their families – also our friends & neighbors – has been incredibly high. They too will need the friendship of the community.
As well we can’t forget the family and friends of the alleged suspect who are trying to understand what happened. These folks need our support & understanding, as you can bet their world has been turned upside down.
The Killam Detachment area is incredibly safe in my opinion, and this is backed up by local statistics that the detachment commander shared with me and others recently. The numbers show a dramatic decrease in crime against persons over the last year, and a slight decrease in crime against property.
There is no way to explain a crime with this level of violence in our part of the world, except to acknowledge that wherever we live, sometimes we cross paths with people that have bad intentions. This is an unfortunate reality we deal with from time to time.
Many lives have been touched by this event, and some individuals may struggle to move forward from it. However, our regional community is still a very safe place to live and visit, and I hope these people will continue to believe this as well.
Whatever happens to rock our world, we will remain a caring, supportive community full of people who help each other through their challenges with great understanding and compassion.
That’s where I want to live.
