These are some poweful emotions that until now, I have never felt at such an intense and powerful level. I have not felt tears burn like this for a very long time.
Brigadier was a five year veteran of the Toronto Police Service. Brigadier and his partner, Police Constable Bradfield, worked together every day for almost all of those five years. Even on his days off, Brigadier's partner saw him.
That is what Mounted Unit officers do on their days off, they come in and take care of their mounts. Their horses. Their partners.
Brigadier has seen a lot of front line duty. Unruly crowds after the CNE, disturbance at the Caribana, protests at the US consulate, those Heritage Front cowards at Queens Park, time after time. Brigadier was there, he was in the front line. Police Officers stand in front of us to protect us. HE stood in FRONT of Police Officers to protect them. Brigadier never hesitated, his partner said go and he was in the middle of it and he never faltered, never cowered, never backed down, not once.
Tonight? Briagdere and his partner approached a car to speak to the driver. The driver sped off, then came back and hit Brigadier and his partner, never hiting the brakes, then actually sped up to flee the scene.
Screaming voices came over the radio and people stopped breathing. Two officers were down, cars lit up their roof lights, mouths that had been talking and laughing suddenly set into grim and firm lines, they pounded on the siren and officers flew from miles around to aid them.
Two of our officers laid on the ground. One in bad pain, destined for recovery. One in bad pain, destined to die on the cold dry pavement of a city street.
Brigadier's partner was rushed to hospital and with great thanks, will survive to return to our streets and once again put his life on the line to protect people like you and me every day. However, Brigadier will never again stand in harms way, will never again protect officers from those who would hurt them, will never again charge into the middle of trouble to take the trouble off the streets, will never again stand up and say, "No, you will not hurt these people on my watch".
He and his partner were struck so hard they spun a cartwheel in the air before landing on the pavement. They tried to save him. They tried hard. I sat there doing what I do in my position as I listened to the radio. I heard the voices of the Monted Unit officers rushing lights and sirens across the city. I listened to the officers ensuring those on scene that the Emergency Veterinarian was on the way.
While officers were arriving, while officers were off in search of the man who did this, while photos were taken, the investigation was beginning, while witnesses stood in numb horror, clutching each other while crying in silent agony for a life about to be lost, during all this activity, a white van stood idling nearby. That van had two men in it. That van was there for one purpose and one purpose only.
The vet arrived and examined Brigadier. The vet looked at the sergeant and shook his head. The sergeant turned to the van, the ETF van and noded his head. The officer with the big gun got out, shouldered his weapon and walked over to the dying Brigadier. I actually saw the video feed of this on CITY before they stopped playing it. I saw Brigadier laying there with those who loved him near by. He knew what was going to happen. I saw the horse start struggling, I saw his feet kicking, I heard him whinnying in fear, I heard one....then two....and his agony stopped. The heavily armed officer stood there a moment, then turned and walked away. He too, this night, had done his job. He had given a gift of love. He had ended Brigadier's suffering and gave him the gift of a helping hand to the other side.
Tonight we say good bye to Brigadier. A five year veteran of the Toronto Police Service Mounted Unit.
....and tomorrow, all of those on the scene, all of those who responded, all of us who supported them and helped them.... tomorrow we will all get up, eat our breakfast, brush our teeth, put on out game face and go back to work again. Doing what we do to keep this city safe for people like you and me.
Thank you for what you gave this city my friend. Now it's time to rest.
Pure, Raw, Unfiltered, Hatred...