Pham's death a reminder all we owe our police forces POINT OF VIEW By JOE BELANGER, The London Free Press Last Updated: March 12, 2010 12:04am Today, Huron OPP Const. Vu Pham will be buried. It's a tragic reminder to us all of just how dangerous the job of policing our society can be and perhaps to reflect. The only job in the country, other than the military, where taking a bullet is a daily threat, policing is difficult and dangerous, where we ask men and women to enter situations none of us would relish and from which many of us would cower. They are paid to go into volatile domestic disputes, to face drug-crazed addicts or alcohol-fuelled idiots, mentally-ill patients, confront armed robbers and murderers and comfort their victims, to track down and stop drunk drivers before they kill or maim, to inform parents, wives and children their loved ones are dead, to attend crash scenes where bodies are torn and dismembered and to help and comfort the injured screaming and crying for help, to run into a burning building to rescue people and not run the other way. And they even have to do it knowing one of their own brothers or sisters in blue, such as Const. Pham, is dead or dying. Yes, there are bad police officers, just as there are bad hardcore criminals, corrupt politicians and greedy business people who steal people's life savings or put profits ahead of worker or public safety. Their ranks reflect society. But the bad are few. Any reasonable person knows the vast majority of police officers are people who believe in the importance of the law and upholding it, who relish the job of protecting their community and will, if called, go into dangerous situations and put their own lives on the line to save the lives of others. Yet what do they get most of the time? They are blamed for injuries, usually a bruise but sometimes a broken bone, when an obnoxious drunk resists arrest and thinks it's their right to ignore a police command, or even push or strike an officer. They are regularly criticized, individually and collectively, for the cost of putting them on the street. And, yes, police officers do make honest mistakes. The funeral of Const. Pham is a stark and sad reminder to us all that it's a small price we pay, indeed. Joe Belanger is a Free Press crime reporter. E-mail joe.belanger@sunmedia.ca or follow JoeBatlfpress on Twitter.
Pham's death a reminder all we owe our police forces
POINT OF VIEW
By JOE BELANGER, The London Free Press
Last Updated: March 12, 2010 12:04am
Today, Huron OPP Const. Vu Pham will be buried.
It's a tragic reminder to us all of just how dangerous the job of policing our society can be and perhaps to reflect.
The only job in the country, other than the military, where taking a bullet is a daily threat, policing is difficult and dangerous, where we ask men and women to enter situations none of us would relish and from which many of us would cower.
They are paid to go into volatile domestic disputes, to face drug-crazed addicts or alcohol-fuelled idiots, mentally-ill patients, confront armed robbers and murderers and comfort their victims, to track down and stop drunk drivers before they kill or maim, to inform parents, wives and children their loved ones are dead, to attend crash scenes where bodies are torn and dismembered and to help and comfort the injured screaming and crying for help, to run into a burning building to rescue people and not run the other way.
And they even have to do it knowing one of their own brothers or sisters in blue, such as Const. Pham, is dead or dying.
Yes, there are bad police officers, just as there are bad hardcore criminals, corrupt politicians and greedy business people who steal people's life savings or put profits ahead of worker or public safety. Their ranks reflect society.
But the bad are few. Any reasonable person knows the vast majority of police officers are people who believe in the importance of the law and upholding it, who relish the job of protecting their community and will, if called, go into dangerous situations and put their own lives on the line to save the lives of others.
Yet what do they get most of the time?
They are blamed for injuries, usually a bruise but sometimes a broken bone, when an obnoxious drunk resists arrest and thinks it's their right to ignore a police command, or even push or strike an officer.
They are regularly criticized, individually and collectively, for the cost of putting them on the street.
And, yes, police officers do make honest mistakes.
The funeral of Const. Pham is a stark and sad reminder to us all that it's a small price we pay, indeed.
Joe Belanger is a Free Press crime reporter.
E-mail joe.belanger@sunmedia.ca or follow JoeBatlfpress on Twitter.
Above is merely a suggestion/thought and in no way constitutes legal advice or views of my employer. www.OHTA.ca
* The above is NOT legal advice. By acting on anything I have said, you assume responsibility for any outcome and consequences. *
http://www.OntarioTicket.com OR http://www.OHTA.ca
This is my first time ever getting a ticket and I am completely frustrated and don't know what to do.
On July 7th, I was driving to work, taking my usual route and it's about a 15 minute drive for me. At the first red light, I noticed I had a bit of time thanks to the countdown so I quickly…
I'm hoping somebody can point me in the right direction to track down various radar gun error codes.
Way back in March of this year I was stopped for speeding, 86kmh in a 60 Community Safety Zone, on Mayfield Rd., on the outskirts of Brampton. (Aloa school)
My husband was driving my car and passed a school bus with flashing lights. He did not realize this until he was past the bus. The driver honked at him but there were no cops nearby and he didn't get pulled over. I believe the driver or witnesses reported this and we got issued a…
Hey guys I was hoping for some advice on my first ever ticket.
I just moved to the Aurora area and made a prohibited left turn between the prohibited hours. This is my very first ticket so I am unsure as to how to precede. I have already requested and received my court date and I assume the next…
i am 25 with a G2 Drivers license. had a lot to drink saturday night. woke up the next morning and drove home around 1pm sunday. got pulled over for speeding, police officer smelled booze had me blow a breathalyzer. i blew 0.035 . he aloud my passenger to drive my truck home. he gave…
Hi, last summer I was pulled over when I made a left turn from he middle lane at Harbor and Yonge Street (heading east on the Gardiner and taking the Yonge exit). I swear they nabbed about 10 people in 5 minutes. Anyways, I decided to challenge in court, my court date is in April and I have just…
In Kanda, the court established that this offence is a strict liability charge. In other words, you can offer a defence of due diligence. In Kanda the defendant explained the…
Last July I got pulled over for failure to obey stop sign at a T-intersection in my neighbourhood. After I got my trial date I requested disclosure in November. Sent in another request for disclosure in early January and in mid-January got a call to pick it up at the court office. The disclosure…
