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[MP3]http://www.voiceprintcanada.com/audio/66779.mp3[/MP3]
'He was a great guy and I'm going to miss him'
Vancouver police mourn 'excellent investigator'
Darah HansenVancouver Sun
Monday, November 13, 2006
VANCOUVER - City police officers are struggling to cope with the news that one of their own -- a 16-year veteran detective who helped crack some of the city's most brutal criminal cases -- killed himself at the police building at 312 Main Street shortly before midnight Saturday.
Investigators requested Sunday that media withhold the name of the 46-year-old officer until all of his relatives have been notified.
The cause of death in the case -- the first suicide by a VPD member in more than 12 years -- was not released.
Police spokesman Const. Howard Chow said that before his death, the officer was "progressing through some personal issues unconnected to his work."
Chow added the officer was receiving support and counselling through the VPD.
Chow said the officer had "an outstanding record in his 16 years and was an excellent investigator who served with pride."
VPD detective Rob Faoro partnered with the officer for nearly five years, investigating major crimes. The pair headed the investigation into the 2001 murder of Aaron Webster in Stanley Park -- their effort resulting in the arrest and conviction of three young men in the high-profile case.
On Sunday, a stunned and grieving Faoro described his former partner as a kind-hearted and generous friend, and a smart detective with a solid mind for police work.
"He was an introvert, but the nicest guy -- always a big smile on his face. He was a gentle giant. He had the strength of 10 men, but you'd never know it because he was always the calmest guy," said Faoro.
"He was the type of guy who, if you needed help, he was there -- and I mean that. He was the type of guy who would be at your house and help you move, on his dime, and never ask for help if he needed it, ever. He was always there."
"He was a great guy and I'm going to miss him," Faoro said.
Const. Tom Stamatakis, president of the Vancouver police union, called the officer's death a "tragic event that will impact all our members," but declined to comment on the circumstances that may have led to the suicide.
"As far as I'm aware, he was a very well-respected member of our organization and very well thought of. He's done some phenomenal work throughout his career," Stamatakis said.
"There was nothing at all involved in this that has to do with any kind of a conduct issue or anything like that. It was his [the officer's] own personal struggles," he added.
Stamatakis said the VPD has been "quite progressive" in implementing support structures both in the workplace and privately for members struggling with the stresses of the job.
"There are many processes and mechanisms set up both internally and externally for members who need some assistance," he said. As well, Stamatakis said officers -- particularly those who work the most violent cases -- are monitored to try to ensure their emotional and psychological well-being.
"It is a very stressful job. We see things that most people will never experience in their lives and, often, a lot of those things we deal with are tragic," he said.
"On top of that, we are all human beings as well and struggle with the same types of personal issues that people struggle with generally so, to that end, we've been quite progressive in making sure that there are avenues or opportunities for members who are needing assistance to get that assistance."
Chow said the man's suicide is under investigation by members of the Lower Mainland's integrated homicide investigation team and the RCMP's identification squad.
According to U.S. researcher Brent E. Turvey, the suicide rate for police officers is double that of the general population, and the most common method of suicide by police officers is shooting themselves in the head. |
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发表于 2006-11-14 15:11:34
发表于 2006-11-17 11:46:39
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