I noticed all the delays on the road for this officers funeral and heard of the number of officers who attended. I have a questioned based on my on ignorance, do tax payers foot the bill for all these "officers" attending, if so do all civil servants have the same privilege?
Slain officers funeral
- Thread starter Noir@heart
- Start date
If you are asking about those from agencies other than that of the deceased, it depends. For most they are there on their own time, however some larger agencies have constables among the principle duties of which are attending funerals and memorials.
Also: most civil servants are not asked to risk their lives on a daily basis or for that matter to make life or death decisions.
I did say i was ignorant to the matter of civil servant. Why you feel the need to emphasize the obvious is beyond me. My question stands at do "people in that line of work (risking their lives) get paid from taxpayers to show their support.
In my opinion people are not getting drafted into their positions they actually are applying for the positions knowing the risk involved. Like anything you may like the benefits but have to acknowledge the downside.
Why not in his case? This Constable was killed in the line of duty. His duty was to protect our rights and freedoms and to ensure our safety. It would be the least that we could do, as tax payers, to honour his memory, and to console his loved ones who must continue life without him. Constable Pham, Rest In Peace.
Your question was answered. There would be high ranking officers from various forces that part of their duty is to attend slain officers funerals. Most constables, military, corrections, firefighters, medics that would attend would not be paid. In fact, many will have come from other Provinces and various states on their own time and expense to support a fellow officer or colleague.
Yes there are inherit risks in several professions and those in such positions are aware of the risks; however, it is far better to have our tax dollars supporting those that have lost their lives in the line of duty than supporting those on the dole. As the OP wrote, his opinion so will I. Admiration and respect for those that serve and protect in any manner has been seriously disregarded with the constant influx of immigrants and refugees that have no respect for themselves or others. When a member of the serve and protect community is killed in the course of their duty, it is our responsibility and obligation to honour their service.
This question was recently asked with regard to the murder of the police officer in Ottawa, around Christmas, 2009.
What follows is a letter to the Editor of the London Free Press: (emphasis mine)
Most officers at funeral were on their own time
On Jan. 7, 30 members from the London Police Service attended the funeral of Officer Eric Czapnik. The loss of this life was senseless and perhaps will never be explained.
While en route to Ottawa, I was interviewed for a radio show. The message received from many Londoners was heartwarming. These thoughts were passed along and appreciated.
Upon returning to London, the following day, I was informed the London Police Service received complaints from a few citizens over the officers attending on taxpayers' dollars.
I wish to set the record straight. As a result of bargaining, our contract allows the service to send four "on duty" personnel to a funeral for the death of an on duty officer within the province of Ontario and one "on duty" personnel to funerals within Canada but outside of Ontario. The cost of this is shared by the London Police Service and the London Police Association.
Of the four members sent, three attended Ontario Police College with Officer Czapnik. The other was an on duty Inspector. This is to represent the London Police Service and the City of London. The rest of the officers attended on their own time. They were either on a day off or used banked holiday, court or overtime to allow for their attendance. A few members got off night shift just in time to leave.
The London Police Service allowed us use of three department vehicles, 12 passenger vans, to allow carpooling while driving. The London Police Association paid for the gas, meals and any accommodation costs that were incurred. Members covered all other expenses out of their own pocket. The cost to the city of London to be represented at this type of event is minimal.
To the citizens of London who showed support and condolences to the citizens of Ottawa, members of the Ottawa Police Service and their families, thank you.
To those persons who expressed their outrage to Deputy Chief Brad Duncan, shame on you.
Brian Urquhart
President, London Police Association
I would expect the same basic rules would apply for most police forces in Ontario.
What follows is a letter to the Editor of the London Free Press: (emphasis mine)
Most officers at funeral were on their own time
On Jan. 7, 30 members from the London Police Service attended the funeral of Officer Eric Czapnik. The loss of this life was senseless and perhaps will never be explained.
While en route to Ottawa, I was interviewed for a radio show. The message received from many Londoners was heartwarming. These thoughts were passed along and appreciated.
Upon returning to London, the following day, I was informed the London Police Service received complaints from a few citizens over the officers attending on taxpayers' dollars.
I wish to set the record straight. As a result of bargaining, our contract allows the service to send four "on duty" personnel to a funeral for the death of an on duty officer within the province of Ontario and one "on duty" personnel to funerals within Canada but outside of Ontario. The cost of this is shared by the London Police Service and the London Police Association.
Of the four members sent, three attended Ontario Police College with Officer Czapnik. The other was an on duty Inspector. This is to represent the London Police Service and the City of London. The rest of the officers attended on their own time. They were either on a day off or used banked holiday, court or overtime to allow for their attendance. A few members got off night shift just in time to leave.
The London Police Service allowed us use of three department vehicles, 12 passenger vans, to allow carpooling while driving. The London Police Association paid for the gas, meals and any accommodation costs that were incurred. Members covered all other expenses out of their own pocket. The cost to the city of London to be represented at this type of event is minimal.
To the citizens of London who showed support and condolences to the citizens of Ottawa, members of the Ottawa Police Service and their families, thank you.
To those persons who expressed their outrage to Deputy Chief Brad Duncan, shame on you.
Brian Urquhart
President, London Police Association
I would expect the same basic rules would apply for most police forces in Ontario.
The march of officers was right in front of my work, they walked in groups of different police forces and emergency personnel. It was unbelievable.Actually I am assuming the OP is referring to the funeral of Peel Region Constable James Ochakovsky, his funeral was today and did cause some traffic interruptions. (OMG!)
Another tragedy - due to a car accident.
May both officers rest in peace.
It might have been on-duty, but they still haven't said how the accident happened...he had to have been going at a very high speed to wrap the car around the pole in that manner.
Sounds like you were stuck in traffic because of the funeral, got pissy about it and posted. :-D A couple of people pointed out the classless nature of your post, and now you're back-pedalling a bit.
Some departments will pay their staff to go, and other departments won't. Some just consider time spent at the funeral to be equal to time on the job. I'd wager that most of the cops there would have gone on their own time without grumbling if it came down to it though.
I'd imagine that if any civil servant, or employee of a decent company, was killed at work, coworkers would be given time off to attend the funeral. Furthermore, most places bring in grief counsellors, and would give employees time off of work for counselling if they so needed it.
The term "Paid duty" has a specific meaning with respect to police officers - it generally refers to the practice of third parties (ie, construction companies, film crews, bars, etc.) hiring off duty officers to provide traffic control or security at a private event. In such a situation the private party contacts the police service and arranges for off duty officers to work the event and the private party also pays the officers at a rate of time and a half. The police service does not pick up the tab for "paid duty" officers - it simply administers the transaction.
In the case of officers attending the funerals of fallen officers it may well be that some of them do this as part of their assigned duties and, as a result, are receiving their regular salary while attending but it is not "paid duty" in the sense that term normally applies to police officers.
Do not go assuming anything about me. What i will say is that although some may find it classless i have nothing to hide. My question stems from me thinking, if someone in my profession died and I had no clue as to who they were would i go to their funeral just because i could get paid. I get the counselling aspect, but if you had absolutely no interaction with an individual how traumatized could you be unless you were already unstable to begin with.
The thing that i find disturbing is how many individuals here are quick to jump to the defense. Yet just yesterday how many people died going to their work or coming from work yesterday...many here seemed informed when it comes to the news, yet no one offers any condolenses to their families or the pain and suffering they experience. knowing that they did not expect that another day at work may lead to their deaths. For those of you that may reply that we can die at any moment, then i would ask why put emphasis on those that choose professions that contribute to that factor.
Let us not also be naive as to think that some attending the funeral did not have their own self serving reasons for being there (do all officers docking overtime or pay duty do that simply to serve and protect the public?). The public has not been made aware as to the cause of the accident. Yet i am aware of the media changing their inital reports at least once. I also would think if the 22 year old that was involved was drunk or under the influence sure as h*** his a** would be in jail.
Untimely death is just that, although unfortunate can tax payers monies not be put to better use.
I am sure that most of the cops there were thinking that it could just as easily be one of them in the casket, and wondering what would happen to their families if they were gone. I doubt that any were thinking, "funeral! Sweet! Cha-ching!"
I wasn't assuming anything about you. I'm just telling you how you are coming across, which is increasingly classless.
Your perception of me is of great concern to me and I do thank you for the input. If you are suggesting that i am a social deviant, guess what...look where i am posting this.
Where i suggest that there may have been some that may have looked at the situation as opportunist. I am pleased to have met an individual that can absolutely answer the question for the masses.
Cheers to you in objecting to my outlook
