Ceremony at legislature honours fallen officers
The names of men and women killed while protecting Albertans were read out outside the legislature Sunday as law enforcement members and families paid their respects to the province’s fallen officers.
No new names were added to the Pillar of Strength monument on the south grounds of the legislature, but for many the losses are still raw.
One hundred law enforcement officers — including city police, RCMP, North West Mounted Police, correctional officers, military police and Parks Canada staff — have died in Alberta since 1876. RCMP, city police and other law enforcement members marched past 19 hats laid on a table to symbolize the slain officers.
Each represented a branch of law enforcement in the province.
Edmonton Police Service Chief Rod Knecht, who was second-incommand of the Alberta RCMP when four constables were ambushed and killed near Mayerthorpe in 2005, said a call about a slain officer is the worst part of the job.
“Every day I say I hope I can get to the end of my career without ever getting that call again,” said Knecht, who was chief when Const. Daniel Woodall was killed in 2015, Alberta’s most recent lineof-duty death. “I’m getting close to the end of my career — I hope I never, ever get that call again.”
Before Woodall, the most recent Edmonton police officer killed on duty was Const. Ezio Faraone, who was shot and killed in 1990.
“I don’t think it really matters as far as the timeline between them. It seems like yesterday. I look at Daniel Woodall and it almost seems like that occurred yesterday.
“I remember when John F. Kennedy died, I remember when John Lennon died, as a Beatles fan, and I remember everyone of these in-serviced eaths,”Knec ht added .“They all bring back terrible memories.
Laying the first wreath at the pillar Sunday was Tanya Pratt, whose great-grandfather Const. Arthur Duncan was killed in 1917 — the first Calgary police officer slain in the line of duty.
“It’s heartbreaking, but it’s honourable being here today and helping out with the wreath laying for the rest of the families,” she said.
Knecht said his thoughts were with the families on Sunday.
“I remember the families, the time I spent with the families after the deaths,” he said. “Some of them are here today — some of them I still keep in touch with. It still has a special place in my heart certainly, and probably until the day I die.”