A cop is a cop, which I am not

Reporter Ronald Zajac, left, tries to pacify Const. Shawn Borgford during a scenario in Tuesday's use-of-force training.

 

As you can now read in today's R&T, Brockville could get an OPP costing, should it ask for one, as early as this summer, as long as all the bureaucratic and statistical stars align.

And if next Tuesday's vote proves to be a "Yes," Pembroke and Orillia could well be two poster cities for, respectively, the pro-OPP and and pro-city-police sides of this debate.

This morning, however, I have a different policing exprience in mind.

I am actually quite proud of the way I held my own in yesterday's city police use-of-force training exercise. Still, one look at the video will reveal that I would not have gone far in this scenario without the timely instructions of Det.-Const. Graham Coe.

Heck, I was one second away from plugging Mike Grant with paintballs as he advanced on us. Not only did I forget I had a baton; I would have had too much trouble yanking if from its holster before the guy was on top of me.

The exercise demonstrates that, regardless of the badge he or she is wearing, a cop is a cop. All of them face the possibility of mortal danger at every call. And no matter what badge our men and women in blue end up wearing, we will respect them for it.