Toronto Division of the RCMP Veterans’ Association is deeply saddened by the murder of RCMP Constable Shaelyn Yang on October 18, 2022.
Cst. Yang worked on Burnaby, British Columbia’s Police Mental Health and Homeless Outreach team and joined the Force in 2019. Prior to this she had worked with the Richmond RCMP Detachment victim services unit as a volunteer.
Our Division sends our sincerest condolence to Cst. Yang’s family, friends and co-workers. We wish them great strength to weather this horrendous event in the days to come.
Her courage is symbolic of the dedication to duty of the members of the RCMP and all other Canadian police services. Lives are lost but Serve and Protect remains a core belief.
Cst. Yang was greatly admired for her work with the homeless and those dealing with mental health issues. Sadly, this is not a unique experience. South Simcoe Police Service Constables Devon Northrup and Morgan Russell were both murdered on October 11th., 2022. They too dealt with situations involving mental health with Northrup being a member of the mental health crisis outreach team and Russell a trained crisis negotiator.
It is time that the Federal and Provincial governments took stock of existing mental health services which, as the number of violent incidents increases do not seem to be able to sufficiently assist individuals in dealing with mental health problems. Problems that reach a crisis and land in the hands of police officers to resolve. Problems which may have been prevented with suitable counselling.
We strongly urge the Federal and Provincial governments to take stock of existing mental health services which, as the number of violent incidents increases, seem insufficient to assist individuals dealing with mental health problems. Problems that too often land in the hands of police officers to resolve when they reach a crisis state. A state that may have been prevented with suitable support and counselling.