I want to be a cop just like my hero dad
Teenager on following her father into force
Jennifer Hyland
The daughter of a police officer killed in a street attack in Canada says she wants to follow in his footsteps and join the force.
Mackenzie Young was devastated when her dad Allan died after he tried to break up a disturbance in Nelson, British Columbia, in July.
Al l an, 55, of Dumbar ton, emigrated to Toronto in 1997 and was off duty when he was fatally injured.
But Mackenzieackenzie says she now wants to make him proud.
The 19-year-old student said: “My dad’ss job as a police officer wasas everything to him.
“He l i ked being someone that people could turnn to and he always likedked being able to help.lp.
“I ’ m ststudyudy iingng biology butut I want to go into policingolicing like my dad.”ad.”
Mackenziezie added: “Yes,es, wha t happened to him is scary but thatt ’ s
He always had a smile on his face part of it. He never really stopped working.”
Despite moving to Canada more than 20 years ago, Mackenzie says her father loved his Scottish roots.
She said: “My dad would go back and forth from Canada to Scotland.
“He even made sure I went to Scotland in the first six months of my life. I’ve since been 12 times in 19 years.”
After the attack, Mackenzie was able to see her dad twice before he died.
A 26-year- old man, who has not been named, was arrested and is facing charges.
Paying tribute to her dad, Mackenzie added: “He was a vibrant person and wasn’t afraid to make a fool of himself to get a laugh.
“He was quite the character and always had a smile on his face. I’m absolutely heartbroken.
“I’m only 19, so I feel like I’ve lost an entire future. It sounds cheesy but every girl wants her dad to walk her down the aisle. All I can do now is live my life in a way that my dad would be proud of me.”