Unless the horse is a police horse, of course.
It has now been over a week since the city of Toronto and the Toronto Police Services held a memorial service for Brigadier. The eight-year-old Belgian cross was struck by a driver who made a U-turn and intentionally barreled into him before fleeing. There was an on-duty police officer riding Brigadier, but his presence seems merely incidental to the events that later took place. The horse was severely injured and had to be put down on the spot.
It's not difficult to understand how police officers in the mounted and canine units become attached to their animals. It's no different than the way many people feel about their household pets. But most people, despite how much they might be grieving, do not conduct lavish funerals or memorial services for their pets.
What took place after the death of Brigadier couldn't have come off any better if it had been planned by People for the Ethical Treatment of animals (PETa). a memorial service that was planned to be held in Scarborough was delayed and moved to the Ricoh Coliseum at the Exhibition grounds so that all the other police horses could attend. Toronto Mayor David Miller issued a five paragraph communiqué on the tragic loss of Brigadier that devoted an entire one sentence to Kevin Bradfield, the office who was riding Brigadier at the time of the incident and was injured. Police officers from Ontario and neighbouring U.S. states attended. and the service was attended by several dignitaries, including Ontario Lieutenant Governor James Bartelman, Ontario Community Safety Minister Monte Kwinter, Mayor David Miller and of course Toronto Police Chief, Bill Blair. The only real difference between that service and those that are held for police officers (human ones) who die in the line of duty was the absence of police officers in great numbers from all over North america.
a rat is a pig is a dog is a boy
Ingrid Newkirk — President of PETa
The fact that such a memorial service was held shows that the city and the Toronto Police Services have adopted PETa'S core belief that there is no difference between human life and animal life. The horse was essentially treated no differently than a human officer would have been if killed in the line of duty. There were however aspects to the service that were simply bizarre. Rev. Walter Kelly, the Toronto Police Services chaplain was quoted as saying, "Brigadier gave his life for his partner and we are sorry for the loss", as if the fact that he had a rider made any difference to the horse's reaction when the car came at him.
When articles appear, as they sometimes do, about police officers (men and women again) who lost their lives in the line of duty, it is usual to name the last few officers who have so died. Look for Brigadier to be added to the names of Todd Baylis, Bill Hancox and Laura Ellis in the future. Officers killed on duty have had parks and streets named after them. The mind boggles over what the city of Toronto will now and or rename "Brigadier".
The memorial service was nothing more than a perfect illustration of the Oprahization of society. a police horse was killed; police officers were going to cry. Our touchy feely left leaning municipal government and police force had to ensure that they cried in public.
If all that wasn't enough, Toronto Councillor Gloria Lindsay Luby now wants to see mandatory jail sentences imposed on those who intentionally injure police animals. She has promised to write the federal government seeking amendments to the Criminal Code.
Now we can all understand how Lindsay Luby has so much time on her hands to write letters. after all when council is faced with serious problems, their solution is to do nothing and wait for other levels of government to give them money. This is just another foolish example to put animals on an equal footing with human beings. On the plus side, if Lindsay Luby is successful in getting mandatory jail terms imposed for those who injure police animals, perhaps one day we will see mandatory jail terms for child sex predators and child pornographers.
The Criminal Code makes certain offences such as murder and assault more serious if committed upon a police officer acting in the execution of his or her duty. Dirk Sankersingh was charged with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing bodily harm and failing to stop at the scene of the accident in the incident that led to Brigadier's death. Neither of these offences is made more serious if an on-duty police officer is the victim. Perhaps the offences of dangerous driving, fail to remain and others should be made more serious if a police officer is a victim. But Lindsay Luby is not proposing harsher penalties for those who would have done what Sankersingh is alleged to have done had a police officer been in a car instead of on top of a horse. The animal is more important than the officer.
For those who care, Constable Kevin Bradfield will be okay.
and Gloria — go fix a pothole.
a letter from the CouncillorGiven the reputation Canada Free Press has as being pro-police, I was surprised to read arthur Weinreb's column personally attacking me for urging the Federal government to beef up protection for law enforcement service animals. These are animals the City and Police put a tremendous amount of resources in to train so they can serve our residents and protect our streets.
Mr. Weinreb suggests that I could be doing other things with my time such as advocating for jail time for child sex-predators and lobbying for better protection of our officers. Perhaps he does not know my record on these issues as for the past decade I have been an advocate for a sex-offender registry and for tougher laws against those who would harm our children. My campaign was acknowledged by much of the media when the former government finally took action to implement such a registry. Mr. Weinreb may also not know that during my time with the Toronto Police Services Board I worked with officers to get better protection for their dangerous job. For him to suggest that my position is that the animal is more important than the police officer is outrageous.
No one is saying that law enforcement animals are better or equal to humans. Recognizing them in law, as has been done in the United States, puts them in a class of their own. Not only are these animals highly trained and an asset to the City and the Police, but they put themselves in considerable danger for the service of humans.
and arthur – I would be more than happy to fix any potholes you may know of in my ward.
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