People working in and out of uniform for Timmins Police were “Humboldt strong” today, sending a message of support to the Saskatchewan community that lost 16 members of its junior hockey team in a bus crash, a year ago tomorrow.
In the police headquarters lobby, 25 officers and support staff posed for a picture, all wearing hockey jerseys.
Traffic Sergeant Tom Chypyha says it’s important to support Humboldt and its first responders.
“We’re all members of the community,” he notes. “We all felt the tragedy, you know. As a collision reconstructionist, I sympathize with the RCMP members that have had to investigate this. It certainly wouldn’t have been easy.”
Chypyha also says that as hockey parents, police employees grieve with the Broncos’ families, and in his 28 years, services for front line responders have increased.
“Counselling services (are now) available. We de-brief after a critical incident where members are given that opportunity to speak to professionals to help officers and civilians to deal with sometimes these types of incidents.”
