I believe we are most fortunate, on a world scale, of having a police force, the calibre of the RCMP, for which we have always held a great respect and pride. However, recent negative conduct has shaken the faith of many and been unworthy of the vast majority of its members, past and current. We have every right to the guarantee that a member's conduct be above reproach and any miscreants be weeded out.
By the same token, I wonder if those who would be all too ready to tar all the members with the same brush ever wonder how day after day, anyone can deal with highway carnage, violent domestic abuse and hapless victimization.
No one with a cell phone or a police scanner and a fast car ever bothers to follow a member through an ordinary day. When I am awakened to sirens in the night, I am assured that those on the 12-hour night shift are out making sure I am safe in my own bed.
I believe that the RCMP would benefit from a housecleaning that starts at the very top of their administration. When there is trouble in the trenches, it is due to the lack of leadership at the top. A quote regarding the Gulf oil spill stated it was "due to a systematic failure of management and its regulatory systems."
I think this applies to many of our institutions that are experiencing meltdown.
It is a bit shocking that there are so many officers under suspension. Most people under a union are covered while being investigated and why should the police be less entitled to be fairly reviewed? Granted, this needs to be totally legal and above board.
P. Findlay
VJH Appreciation
I do wish to express my appreciation for the treatment I received from Dr. Crowly and then the Vernon Jubilee Hospital staff. I had a small hernia which was quite painful at times.
I live in Lake Country and my family doctor had booked me to see a surgeon in Kelowna. However, after waiting for a few weeks with no response, I finally called the surgeon's office where I was told that there was a two-and-a-half-year waiting list just to see him. I told them that I was 80-years-old and although I am in fairly good health, I could not wait that long. So my doctor suggested we try Vernon, which I was happy to do. I had had some other tests done recently so I was quite comfortable going to Vernon. I was able to see Dr. Crowly in a few weeks and was impressed with his concern and the immediate date set for surgery, which I was most thankful for.
The anesthetist, Dr. Marks, set me at ease before the surgery, and all in all it went very well. I would recommend the doctors in Vernon to anyone. Care such as I received is not common these days.
The hospital staff of nurses and others were excellent. They are all great people and deserve all the praise that can be given to them. Should I find myself needing care again, I would be very comfortable going to the Vernon Jubilee Hospital.
George Kozub
Thank You
I have always believed in the kindness of others, but it was heartwarming for me recently to have this reaffirmed. Within minutes of falling on the ice and hitting my head rather hard, I was surrounded by people willing to stop what they were doing to help me although I was a total stranger to them.
At least six people rushed over, some stopping their vehicles, to take the time to ensure that I was okay and to offer me a ride to emergency, which I gratefully declined. The Albrechts showed their concern by insisting on driving me home although I was only a block away. Robert even escorted me right to my door and didn't leave until I promised that my husband was home and that I would tell them so he could monitor me for awhile. When I apologized for taking the Albrechts away from what they were doing, Robert sincerely told me that I was their first priority.
Thank you, Robert, Lynne and the others who took time out of their day for me. I am touched by all of the good people there are that help me and others in need.
Barb Treen
Grassroots Voters
Just a note to inform you that I sense that the time has passed to formally ask why our federal/provincial governments have yet to give the grassroots majority voters of British Columbia the documentations with relationships to their real reasons as to why they had to ram down our throats their Harmonized Sales Taxes, which seems mainly to make the rich minority richer by mainly making the poor majority poorer.
I also sense the time has passed to formally ask for the real reasons why our own federal/provincial governments have yet to give the grassroots majority voters of British Columbia the reports referring to our governments' resources uses.
We need to ask for the real reasons why our governments are taking record-making time with everything involved with these democratic decrees.
Bruce Gurnsey
