We lost another brother.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - We lost another brother.

Posted: 12/20/2005 1:48:14 PM EDT

Retired Canadian police officer killed in Haiti
CTV.ca News Staff

A retired Canadian police officer working on election security in Haiti has been killed in an ambush. Mark Bourque died while driving through the country's capital, Port-au-Prince, after shots were fired into his car.

"Mr. Bourque was in Haiti as part of Canada's efforts to promote good governance and democracy, and his work there exemplified to the world the finest of Canada's values," Prime Minister Paul Martin said in a statement.

"Canada condemns this senseless act of violence. We are profoundly saddened by the loss of a fellow Canadian who served his country with distinction both at home and abroad. He died while serving his country, and he will be greatly missed by all those whose lives he touched and helped make better."

Canada sent 25 retired officers to Haiti this fall to monitor the elections there, The Canadian Press reports. They joined 100 Canadian regular police officers working with the UN.

Haiti has struggled to organize a presidential election because of rampant violence and an unstable infrastructure. The country's constitution requires a new government to take power by Feb. 7.

Haiti is currently being government by an interim set of legislators chosen by the international community and headed by Interim Prime Minister Gerard Latortue.

Former president Jean-Bertrand Aristide was ousted in Feb. 2004.

Violence is most common in the poor, urban neighbourhoods of Port-au-Prince and Bel Air, where members of Arsitide's Fanmi Lavalas party report being targeted with assassination attempts.

Aristide has insisted he was overthrown by emissaries of the United States, while former US secretary of state Colin Powell has said Aristide left voluntarily.

The former president was taken with his family and those in his home at the time to the Central African Republic. A delegation of activists, journalists and legislators from the Caribbean community returned him temporarily to Jamaica, from where he moved on to South Africa.

Posted: 12/20/2005 1:54:46 PM EDT

[#1]

RIP, officer.

We had a officer that was deployed to Haiti with his reserve unit (he was a major.) He said life doesn't mean squat there. I guess violence is a way of life.

Posted: 12/20/2005 2:03:29 PM EDT

[#2]

I'm guessing he was a retired RCMP officer. They usually are the ones asked to go on missions like this.
I had a good friend down there a couple of years ago with the army..the stories he tells about what it is like would make your hair curl...

Posted: 12/20/2005 2:58:11 PM EDT

[#3]

I'm not surprised atthe conditions in Haiti considering it's past dificulties. Dangerous place.

RIP brother. Once a cop, always a cop.

Posted: 12/20/2005 7:10:37 PM EDT

[#4]

<------------------ my children came from Haiti, I am so thankful they got out. Sorry to hear of the officer who lost his life there.

Posted: 12/21/2005 12:58:03 AM EDT

[#5]

I served in Haiti during the invasion and occupation with the Marines in 1994.That country is a real shithole.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - We lost another brother.

General » Brothers Of The Shield

Win a FREE Membership!

Sign up for the ARFCOM weekly newsletter and be entered to win a free ARFCOM membership. One new winner* is announced every week!

You will receive an email every Friday morning featuring the latest chatter from the hottest topics, breaking news surrounding legislation, as well as exclusive deals only available to ARFCOM email subscribers.

Warning

Confirm Action

About AR15.COM

Stay Connected

Newsletter

Contact Us