The recent shootings in Fredericton not only have an impact on New Brunswick Police Officers, but on all police officers here in Nova Scotia and across the Country.
On Friday, August 10th, 2018 two members of the Fredericton Police Service, Constable Lawrence Robert Costello, 45, and Constable Sara Burns, 43, were killed while responding to a report of shots fired in the city’s north end, along with two civilians.
This really hits close to home for law enforcement professionals here in the South Shore.
“I have members who have gone through the (police) academy with members of Fredericton, I’ve had members that were on training with members of Fredericton throughout the years and it certainly touches base; it was an unfortunate situation and it affects everybody in law enforcement in the Atlantic Provinces as well as across Canada,” says Scott Feener, Acting Police Chief with the Bridgewater Police Service.
Feener calls it a stern reminder of the dangers of policing, something they’re all very conscious of every day they put on the uniform.
“We’ve had officers killed in the line of duty here in Lunenburg County and some of our older members were still working when that happened and, you know, it affects everybody and it makes the members more conscious of their surroundings and what’s going on,” adds Feener.
Feener says they do have programs in place to assist officers dealing with any job related stresses or PTSD.
Story by Craig Power
Twitter: @CraigTPower
Email: power.craig@radioabl.ca
