Police officers get graded in various categories each year. Exceeds Expectations is what I scored in self-control last year. It gave me mixed feelings when I receive that mark – I mean who cares? It’s not like I exceeded expectations on anything cool like speed, or shooting, or jumping off moving trucks! I was never going to get a date because of my incredible self control . . . I never thought its value was worth much working in such a corporate political organization like OPS.
Cst. Khoa Hoang
That is, until I witnessed a man in Toronto holding up a sign during the funeral of Sgt. Ryan Russell that read, “People Die – No Police State.” Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t like insensitive people. I read public postings about Ryan’s death on the internet that said, “Who cares?” and “What did he ever do for me?”
The truth is Ryan Russell did absolutely nothing for you – except put on a uniform and take an oath.
Most of us have never taken an oath before. Well, except when we get married and we all know how successful those stats are! It’s hard to remember an oath, we forget the words, become preoccupied with life, and simply don’t care over time. But the oath itself remains the same and it never forgets those who are courageous enough speak it…
On the early morning of Jan. 12t, Russell died because he spoke the words that bind all peace keepers. For that I am truly saddened, for it’s only a matter of time before the oath finds another one of us. That is the unspoken reality of policing.
We try our best to be safe by getting new equipment and develop better strategies. We try to balance the odds in our favour. “We can’t lose on the street, we’re not allowed!” yelled the instructor at the Ontario Police College. Losing out there could mean the end.
It’s no wonder police officers can suffer from a state of hypervigilance and paranoia. It’s not easy to be attacked by strangers, and then welcome people with open arms. But the good ones do it. The good ones smile at everyone even after being spat at. Most officers treat others with respect moments after being disrespected, and ask for nothing in return because it’s part of the oath.
You probably never ran into Ryan because you were too busy having fun with your friends. You never met Ryan because it was bedtime and you had to wake up early. Ryan never met you because life had important things to worry about. And chances are, you never met Ryan because he was busy doing his job.
It’s not in our nature to boast about what we accomplished. Rarely does good police work make the news when stories of fear easily gain more public attention. The past few months have certainly proven this true. A cynic would argue that doing good work is expected, so no praise is needed. But motivation has a way of diminishing without constant reinforcement.
Nobody needs a hug to survive, but it sure feels nice to get one!
Whether you support the police or not, the fact that Ryan put himself in front of a speeding snow plow has nothing to do with the G20, Stacy Bonds, or police policy. He did it because he was attempting to save the woman walking to work, the man waiting at the bus stop, and the children getting on a bus.
Ryan took an oath to put others before him, and the oath decided it was time test his integrity. Well, my friend, my colleague, you have passed with flying colours and are the reason why we live in the best country in the world.