York Landing Teenage Hunt: We all Lose
I haven't heard of York Landing prior to this so it must be quite small. \
This story has gotten international attention. One of their alleged victims is from Australia so journalists from that continent have been up there providing updates. One reporter, bored from lack of updates, has made herself an expert on Northern Manitoba. She is sounding like a person who has lived in Manitoba all of her life.
The police presence up north is massive. Yet, they happened to be spotted by a volunteer or perhaps two volunteers. The longer this goes on, unfortunately, the more incompetent our national police force looks. They have been at this for almost a week and yet they still had only canvassed half of the homes in Gillam.
They are not pursuing criminal masterminds. They are pursuing two teenage boys who are without resources.
The longer this goes on, the more people start to think. Everyone has a story to share. I start thinking of something that I had forgotten about. It was about 10 years ago and it was a very hot day in August. My children and I went into 7/11 to get a slurpee. Apparently, we weren't the only ones with that idea. The line-up at the Slurpee station was massive and it was mostly children. Two police officers strolled in and cut in line to the front. They took plastic cup and took a small sample from most of the machines before they found the one that they would chose. They didn't even have the courtesy of throwing their sample cups out, they just put them on the shelf. They took the largest cups possible and got their slurpees. Then, they discovered that there were no slurpee straws. One of the officers took out a pocket knife and made a diagonal cut at one end of his straw to make a home-made version of the slurpee straw. All those children watching and a police officer takes out a knife. Then, the officers strolled out without paying. I guess they get their slurpees for free.
I don't begrudge them free slurpees. I understand they are busy and they needed to cut in line. I think it was wrong for one of them to take out a pocket knife to solve a non-existent problem. It was so hot the ice in the slurpee would have melted quickly. A normal straw could have been used. Taking out a knife, even a pocket knife, sent the wrong message. It was arrogant and it was irresponsible.
Most people have a story like that. A simple lapse of judgement. Nothing that was worth reporting but the incident stayed with me. I can't imagine the pressure of being a police officer. I get that it stays with them, even outside of uniform. However, when they are in uniform, they need to represent that uniform and be conscious of how it affects others.
This hunt for two teenagers is having an affect on all of us. We feel less safe and we also don't want to admit this, but we are losing confidence in the police. I realize that it unfair to the brave men and women who are risking their lives everyday. However, it is also reality.
Losing faith in the police affects all of us negatively, especially those who might already have a reason to have little faith.
The longer the search for these boys go on, the more whispers there will be . The more whispers, the more we all lose.
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