Group logo of General Discussion Topics

General Discussion Topics → Forum → C-K Police Service

Public Group
  • Profile picture of Michael Cowtan Michael Cowtan said 5 months, 3 weeks ago ago:

    News today that Chatham-Kent Police officer Cindy Schlarbaum has pleaded guilty to a drunk driving offense. I think the perception is that the CKPS is riven with bad apples, and that they need rooting out. It is probably unfair, but the online comments about police officers driving drunk, and being let go by their colleagues is gaining momentum on social media, and IMHO the chief needs to address it.

    Internal problems in the RCMP seems to be in the news on an almost daily basis, and Canadians are losing confidence in their police forces. Seems to me that unless the police have the confidence of the populace, then we are headed toward anarchy.

    #
  • Profile picture of Chantielle Kennedy Chantielle Kennedy said 5 months, 3 weeks ago ago:

    I haven’t lost faith in our local police, I know a few area officers, and they’re great people.

    Being a police officer can’t be easy. My sister is a paramedic in Waterloo, and the things that she deals with on a daily basis are unbelievable; I imagine it’s similar for our police. Cops are people too – they need to cope somehow. Obviously, drinking and driving is not the right method.

    I saw a program the other evening on the CBC about a pilot project in Ottawa involving their police force. This program takes an active approach to helping officers manage the stress and bad health effects associated with working as an officer – http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/story/2011/11/18/ottawa-police-health-project.html

    During the on-air story, the reporter mentioned that they’d been able to successful identify and help treat officers with issues ranging from diabetes to alcohol reliance. Perhaps this kind of a program would be beneficial in helping our local officers better mange the stress of their position and further prevent more of these human-errors before they happen. Because that’s what it is – human-error, not necessarily police-error. Cops can screw up too, it’s just critical that our service learn from these errors and help better prepare officers for the physical and mental demands of the job.

    #
  • Profile picture of Rob Rob said 5 months, 3 weeks ago ago:

    Hopefully the proper supports are being made available to police officers.

    I personally don’t know how they can do it. – There has been a lot of talk lately about NHL enforcers who get into depression, drugs etc. in part to deal with the stress of waiting for their next fight.

    How a cop can go out every night and pull over cars in the dark – and approach the vehicle not knowing what is waiting for them there, or showing up to break up parties or domestics is beyond me. Hats off.

    Police are asked to behave differently than the rest of us every day… and that goes with the job they asked to do. But their career is a lifestyle, and I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy.

    #
  • Profile picture of Michael Cowtan Michael Cowtan said 5 months, 3 weeks ago ago:

    I agree with both of the sentiments expressed above, I would not want their job, and the stress must be terrible. That being said, that does not stop the perception being expressed that there is something rotten in the State of Denmark, and that perception needs to be addressed.

    #

You need to log in or to participate in this forum topic.