(This
column was published in the North
Shore News on
Nov. 24, 1999)
Local
bouquets for the boys in blue
By Leo Knight
PERHAPS
it's time to take you from the world of organized crime and
corruption and give you a peek into the world of the street cop
in your community.
You
see, in North Vancouver, largely due to the cost of living, most
of the people who toil in our streets don't actually live here.
They commute to our little corner of paradise to earn their
daily crust. Fortunately for all of us, whether they live here
or not, they care.
In
taking this little look, I'd like to toss a few bouquets and,
while I'm at it, a few brickbats.
Being
a police officer is a job like no other. At any given time you
might be called upon to put yourself into the line of fire, into
the danger zone none of us can even conceive of. In harm's way.
It takes a special calling to do the job, not only for the
potential dangers of the job, but, to a large degree for the way
the job is so all-encompassing, intruding into your private life
as well as your duty hours.
North
Vancouver Mountie Marc Sylvestre is an example of a dedicated
officer who has made the North Shore his home and will do
whatever he has to to protect his community.
Last
Friday, his kids weren't in school because of yet another
so-called professional day. He thought he'd take a day's leave
to spend with his girls instead of leaving them with a sitter.
While
he was sipping his morning coffee, contemplating his day, he
spotted a ne'er-do-well out of place in his quiet Seymour
neighbourhood. While most of us might not have taken notice of
the individual, he put down his coffee and went outside to see
what the guy was up to.
Within
short order he observed a theft from one of his neighbours'
yards and the suspect continuing down the street looking for
another target of opportunity.
As
the street rat was skulking around another neighbour's house
sizing it up for a break-in, Constable Sylvestre collared the
rat and held him down until on-duty officers arrived.
The
bad guy is facing a charge of theft thanks to the diligence of
an off-duty officer who lives and cares for our community and
the neighbourhood was spared being victimized by another punk
trying to prove that Charles Darwin was correct.
A
bouquet to Constable Marc Sylvestre who showed that being a cop
is more than just a job; it's a commitment to your community.
While
I emphasize the positive, we can also toss a brickbat at former
North Van Mountie Scott Simpson, accused of trafficking
marijuana to kids and failing to appear at a court hearing.
Simpson
was under suspicion for a number of months and the cops did
their job despite the fact the target was one of their own.
Too
often the police are criticized for the so-called blue wall of
silence, protecting other cops who may have crossed the line.
The reality is underlined by the Simpson case.
While
the case is before the courts, I'm prohibited from discussing
the details. Suffice to say, those who worked with Simpson were
shocked when they heard of the arrest of a colleague.
Then,
when he failed to appear in court to face up to his accusers, he
pushed the line even further. He ran to Ontario and dared the
police to come and get him, thinking the system wouldn't issue a
Canada-wide warrant for a relatively minor criminal offence.
Whatever
his fate may be, his colleagues and co-workers will never
understand. He crossed the line.
The
blue wall of silence has another side to it. The side only seen
when a rogue cop goes bad. Then the blue wall turns its
collective back. As it should be.
And
on the good side, there's North Van Mountie Pat Thibault, lauded
in this month's Pony Express, an internal RCMP
publication, for his dedication and long hours spent devoted to
coaching minor hockey in North Vancouver.
For
Constable Thibault and those other officers who dedicate not
only their public life, but their private life as well to the
community they live in and serve, a bouquet, well-earned.
Then, a bouquet to North Vancouver Mounties who did a kick-in on a crack house, on Saturday, and recovered a house-full of stolen property. And, a coincidental brickbat to the judge who let the same house holder out on bail just a couple of months ago with a finger-wagging, after the same North Van Mounties executed a search warrant and recovered -- wait for it -- a house-full of stolen property.
Finally, a bouquet to newly elected Doug Mackay-Dunn on his recent election to North Van District council. Doug has served Vancouver City as a cop for almost 30 years. During that time he never fell victim to the game of petty police politics, serving with integrity and dedication. If he brings those same qualities to his new position, the North Shore will be a better place.