Canadian officers killed at pot farm

ROCHFORT BRIDGE, Alberta – Four officers of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police were shot dead Thursday while investigating an illegal marijuana farm, the worst case of police killings in Canada in 120 years.

RCMP spokesman Cpl. Wayne Oakes said the four officers were at a Quonset hut on a farm near the village of Rochfort Bridge in northwestern Alberta when they were shot by a suspect, who was also found in the shed. A government source told the Canadian Press news agency that the suspect later killed himself after shooting the officers.

“It’s my sad duty to inform you that four members of the RCMP were killed today in the line of duty – four brave, young members,” said Bill Sweeney, commanding officer of the RCMP in Alberta.

“The loss of four police officers is unprecedented in recent history,” Sweeney said. “I’m told you have to go back to about 1885 in the RCMP history during the Northwest Rebellion to have a loss of this magnitude.”

Sweeney said he couldn’t give details on the shootings until all the facts were gathered.

Prime Minister Paul Martin called it an act of “brutality” and offered his condolences to the families of the slain officers.

Sgt. Rick Oncescu of the Calgary RCMP said two SWAT teams were called into the area and Mounties from surrounding jurisdictions also responded when the four officers didn’t respond to radio calls.

Maj. Scott Lundy, a spokesman for Edmonton Garrison, said the military received a request just after 12:30 p.m. from the RCMP for assistance.

He said two armored personnel carriers, an ambulance and about 20 military personnel were dispatched from the military base.

Public Safety Minister Anne McLellan said she would consider tougher penalties for growers in a proposed marijuana decriminalization bill. Parliament is preparing to debate a resolution that asserts that legalizing pot would weaken the activities of drug dealers and organized crime.