'Sadness prevails': Vancouver Island Mounties mourn loss of Burnaby officer
Flags were at half-mast around the capital region and grief was close to the surface at the West Shore RCMP detachment Wednesday, where police held a moment of silence to honour a slain colleague.
“Sadness prevails today and yesterday,” said an emotional Cpl. Nancy Saggar. “Our membership is definitely feeling the blow of grief.”
She and her fellow Mounties were reacting to the shocking death of RCMP Const. Shaelyn Yang, who was stabbed to death Tuesday in Burnaby, B.C.
“Const. Yang was a member of the RCMP family, so we're all feeling the loss of a family member,” Saggar said.
Yang worked with the RCMP’s mental health and homeless outreach team. She was killed while on duty following an altercation with a man living in a tent in Broadview Park.
The man was shot by police. He now faces first-degree murder charges.
Saggar says the incident serves as a reminder of how quickly things can escalate and the need to be vigilant on the job.
“I don’t think it’s a necessary a change in protocol, but definitely in terms of awareness. It does increase your officer awareness. It brings that to the top when something like this happens,” she said.
Meanwhile, staff at Victoria’s Our Place Society emphasize that violence from those experiencing homelessness is rare.
“Very little violence against the general public,” said Grant McKenzie, spokesperson for Our Place. “There’s a lot of fear out there, especially when you hear something like this."
During the pandemic, Victoria council increased funding to retain extra police officers to provide backup to Victoria bylaw officers who felt unsafe doing checks in certain city parks.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.