Edmonton Police Association president speaks to realities of policing in wake of line of duty deaths

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The president of the Edmonton Police Association is speaking out on the realities of policing in the wake of the shooting deaths of two constables this month.

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In a statement released Thursday evening, Curtis Hoople said the recent murder of Edmonton Police Service constables Travis Jordan and Brett Ryan has brought to the forefront the impacts policing has on members and their families.

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“The human being that wears the uniform is prone to emotional trauma and damage just like the people they serve,” he said. “We understand what the risks are but are comforted by the incredible training and support we have.”

Hoople said shift work and constant calls for overtime are “torturous” on family schedules and families can’t help but feel secondary to the demanding career.

“The EPS member will remind them they love them but knows they really cannot one-hundred-per-cent guarantee they will return after shift,” he wrote.

“The EPS member knows they cannot always share what they see on the streets of Edmonton, so they bury this deep into the vault hoping this never surfaces again. This reality is tested during times of grief or uncertainty in work or personal lives. This is the hardening that can develop into permanent scarring that lives with police long after the careers come to an end.”

Hoople said officers going to work following the murders of their fellow members shows the “resilience and commitment” each has, having to put personal feelings and emotions aside to focus on keeping the community safe.

“We are all grieving and know we must eventually move forward,” he said. “In times like this, we need the support, understanding and patience from our community to allow us a moment of mourning to remember our colleagues and build up the resilience to return to our duties.”