Heidi, I Salute You!
Heidi Stevenson
Many young boys and girls dream of becoming a police officer one day. Most children look up to police officers. I never outgrew my admiration. In South Africa, this led me to get trained as a reservist police officer in my twenties. Eight years later I was a captain. I will never forget my training. I was the only Afrikaans guy among 80 Sotho people and it was an honor getting to know them better. I was at the time already a pastor and lead a more privileged life than all of them. In South Africa, unlike in Canada, police get meagre pay.
The police force in South Africa is not trusted like they use to be trusted. Corruption and incompetence crept in and tainted their reputation but in my experience, I can honestly say it was the minority that gave the majority such an unfair reputation. After my training I did 16 hours a week in Bloemfontein and Delmas. I got up close and personal with police officers and met extraordinary people. For the most part all I worked with were dedicated and servants at heart. They face extremely dangerous and traumatic situations. They encounter a lot of raw emotions, opposition, and violence daily. So many told me that they make sure to greet their families well every day as they are not sure if they will see them again.
Wherever I travelled, I had an eye out for police officers. I found the same dedication everywhere. Coming to Canada I was pleased to learn police officers are paid decent and corruption is not as big a problem here. I marveled at RCMP officers handing out colouring books to children in awe and it was noticeable how they use as little as possible force and violence. A police force such as this, is a hallmark of a country that has important principles in place.
And that was why it was extra hard to hear about the tragic senseless shoot out in Nova Scotia that killed 18 people, one of whom was Heidi Stevenson, a RCMP officer. My heart breaks for her family as well as for the others. This is the kind of incidents that does not belong in Canada or anywhere for that matter.
Heidi, I salute your courage and dedication. You leave a void. I wish I could help fill it. May your legacy be that Mounties are respected even more and that fellow officers be inspired to give their all-in service to the beautiful people of Canada.
The lives we lead, echoes into eternity. Heidi’s echo s one that makes the world a better place.
Gabriel J Snyman
April 20th 2020