Fallen officers remembered

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This article was published 27/09/2021 (1649 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

An on-duty RCMP officer who died in a collision on Winnipeg’s Perimeter Highway in 2019 was one of 50 police and peace officers who have died in the line of duty in the province since the early 1900s.

RCMP Const. Allan Poapst was killed when a truck crossed a median and crashed into his cruiser in December 2019. He was five days short of serving 13 years with the RCMP, having spent his entire career in Manitoba.

On Sunday, 50 Manitoba police and peace officers, including Poapst, were remembered at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg during National Memorial Day for police and peace officers.

Poapst was the last Manitoban police officer to die in the line of duty.

“At these ceremonies, we recognize everybody in law enforcement who paid the ultimate sacrifice,” Brandon Police Service Chief Wayne Balcaen said.

Balcaen drove to Winnipeg to commemorate the event with fellow police and peace officers, family members of fallen officers and the general public in the event created to recognize those fallen officers.

“There were probably 50-plus police officers representing the various forces across the province,” Balcaen said.

Various dignitaries were present at the ceremony to commemorate the day as well, Balcaen pointed out.

After presentations, there was a roll call, listing the names of all the fallen officers with a moment of silence and prayer.

“This is national recognition of what peace and police officers do in Canada. And the dangers that they face, and the ultimate sacrifices that some make because of the career that they’ve chosen and the communities that they’ve chosen to keep safe,” he said.

For Balcaen, the day meant an opportunity to have his own time to reflect on what the career means and the sacrifices that all officers make within their communities, he said.

“And pay my respect to those who made the ultimate sacrifice within the line of duty. It’s very humbling. It’s my honour to be here to represent Brandon Police Service. It’s a great tribute to all police forces and different areas that have peace officers embedded within their roles,” he said.

Peace officers include federal and provincial corrections officers and conservation officers.

As chief of BPS for the last four years, Balcaen hopes he has been able to bring the human side of police work to the community.

“Behind every badge is a person. They’re a mother, a father, a brother, a sister, an aunt, an uncle. They’re human beings. They’re putting their lives on the line for the community. And to me, that’s very profound and humbling to be the chief of people that are so selfless in this job.”

The annual public ceremony was hosted by the Manitoba Association of Chiefs of Police (MACP).

“Today, more than ever, it’s important we recognize and reflect on those men and women who confronted the challenges of their time and gave their lives to keep peace and order in our communities,” said Winnipeg Police Service Chief Danny Smyth, who’s the president of MACP.

“There will always be a need for police and peace officers and it is important that we pay tribute to those who came before us and their families to ensure their sacrifice never be forgotten.”

In 1998, the Government of Canada proclaimed the last Sunday in September of every year as Police and Peace Officers’ National Memorial Day. This day gives Canadians an opportunity to formally express appreciation for the dedication of police and peace officers to keep communities safe.

“We recognize and thank those who serve every day and accept the risks to their safety, and we honour those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the performance of their duties,” Justice Minister Cameron Friesen said in a statement.

“This year, we salute the two officers who died in Ontario and Saskatchewan, and express our sympathies and our gratitude to their families.”

» kkielley@brandonsun.com