Pubdate: Tue, 15 Mar 2005 Source: Journal-Pioneer, The (CN PI) Copyright: 2005 Journal-Pioneer Contact: http://www.journalpioneer.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2789 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada) OFFICERS KILLED BY DANGEROUS OFFENDER, NOT GROW OPS There's a need - both natural and compelling - that drives us to ask "why" a tragedy happens, as RCMP commissioner Giuliano Zaccardelli expressed in his recent speech at the national memorial service for four murdered Mounties. As Zaccardelli said, there's danger in moving too quickly and in avoiding the imperative of response. In the days following the terrible shootings on an Alberta farm, increased attention has been focused on marijuana grow operations. Consts. Peter Schiemann, Anthony Gordon, Leo Johnston and Brock Myrol were gunned down as they kept watch over an investigation site, the property of Jim Roszko, where a grow operation had been uncovered. Initially, Zaccardelli himself condemned that operation as the root cause for the deaths. He later said his comments might have been inappropriate since the full details were not known about the tragedy. "None of these are simple issues," he conceded. Now, federal Justice Minister Irwin Cotler is facing pressure to impose minimum sentences for marijuana grow operation owners. To his credit, Cotler argued studies show minimum sentences do not provide an effective deterrent. And is it likely the threat of a stiffer sentence would have stopped one Jim Roszko from slaughtering men of the law? The facts that have been revealed - and certainly not all have been, nor may ever be -echo a resounding no. As other observers have pointed out, the investigation did not begin with a tip about a grow operation. Instead, the RCMP was called that day to assist bailiffs who went to Roszko's property to repossess a pickup truck. Roszko reportedly said "F--- off," before roaring across a field in his truck. Which brings us to Roszko himself, a man known for hating cops, for shooting warning shots to shoo people away from his property and for a past full of violence and guns; a man whose criminal record included sexual assault and who had faced charges (but not convictions) the likes of illegal confinement and counselling to murder. When he gunned down the four officers, he was bound by a court order not to possess weapons. Grow operator or not, it seems unlikely he would have feared the specter of a few more months in the slammer. Instead it was the community - and even some members of his family - who feared him. Grow ops may be a topic for another debate. But the real questions here are what could have been done to better protect the officers; why the justice system failed to prevent Roszko from having guns; and why four men had to die for us to recognize our powerlessness to deal with dangerous offenders. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth