When news broke of three RCMP officers shot and killed and two more wounded in Moncton Wednesday night, memories of Mayerthorpe came rushing back to Red Deer native Doreen Jewell-Duffy.
Jewell-Duffy’s son, Const. Anthony Gordon, was one of four Mounties killed in 2005 on a farm near Mayerthorpe by James Roszko, who then turned the gun on himself.
“I feel for those families because it is a tough thing to go through,” said Jewell-Duffy. “It is devastating.
“It’s the same scenario, he’s out to kill cops. It’s unbelievable”
She said she followed the search for the Moncton shooter before she went to work Thursday morning, but it got to a point where she couldn’t watch it any more.
Colleen Myrol said she and her husband Keith didn’t sleep well Wednesday night after they learned about the Moncton police shooting. Their son Const. Brock Myrol was also killed in 2005 in the Mayerthorpe tragedy.
“It brings everything back,” said Myrol. “We need the RCMP to be out there, but their hearts are breaking.
“I don’t know if everybody realizes just how close RCMP officers are. Whether its a retired RCMP or a new RCMP member going in, there are parents excited because their son or daughter are going to be a member.”
Three Moncton Mounties were killed Wednesday evening and another two are in hospital undergoing surgery after being wounded in the same incident. Police in New Brunswick are searching for Justin Bourque, 24, in connection with the shooting.
Myrol had heard some of the early reporting of what was happening in Moncton, but it wasn’t until her cousin called to see how she was doing that she learned of the tragedy.
“Just instantly I started to shake,” said Myrol. “I felt I was going to be sick and I needed to talk to Const. Jason Lapointe.”
Lapointe was Brock’s friend and he carried Brock’s Stetson during national memorial for the victims of the Mayerthorpe shooting.
“The cold bloodedness of it goes back to our loss of our four boys,” said Myrol. “They were ambushed, it is such a cowardly way to deal with the situation.
“You just think ‘my gosh, there are more police going to someone’s door.’ I’ll never forget that as long as I live. Your life is changed forever, it’s just heart wrenching.”
Deputy Commissioner Marianne Ryan, Commanding Officer of the RCMP issued a statement saying their thoughts are with our colleagues in New Brunswick during this difficult and tragic time.
The flags in front of the Red Deer detachment were at half mast and a bouquet of flowers was left in front of the downtown detachment Thursday.
“You just have to tell yourself to breathe and tell yourself to breathe again,” said Myrol. “You have to take it one step at a time and that’s all you can do.
“As (Winston) Churchill said when you’re walking through hell, keep walking.”
mcrawford@www.reddeeradvocate.com