It does come at a price’: Edmonton Police Association president addresses officer morale and mental health – Edmonton Sun
Jan 23, 2024
“It’s not an easy job. We sacrifice quite a bit because we love the job, and we know what it means to do the job right. It does come at a price to mental health,” Hoople said
Amid loud criticism of police for arrests during encampment take-downs, one number concerning the well-being of Edmonton’s police force is telling.
The percentages are troubling but not surprising to Curtis Hoople. The president of the Edmonton Police Association keeps an eye on the force’s weighting torque on the morale of its members.
At the top of the list of the year’s stressors was two constables slain in the line of duty. Const. Brett Ryan and Const. Travis Jordan were responding to a reported family dispute when they were gunned down by a troubled 16-year-old, who turned the gun on himself after shooting his mother.
“The ripple effect of that is quite significant. We’re seeing members seeking resources sooner,” said Hoople, who is also a director at the Canadian Police Association.
