Helping post-Humboldt: Cornwall police extend support to Nipawin RCMP

The RCMP detachment on Tollgate Road in Cornwall, Ont. on Wednesday, May 2, 2018. The Cornwall Community Police Service has extended support to the Nipawin, Sask. detachment of the RCMP, which was tasked with investigating the Humboldt Broncos bus tragedy. (Newswatch Group/Bill Kingston)

CORNWALL – The Cornwall Community Police Service has been thanked for extending support to their brethren in Saskatchewan after the Humboldt Broncos bus tragedy.

Chief Designate Danny Aikman told the police board this morning (May 2) about sending a card and some Tim Hortons gift cards to the Nipawin Royal Canadian Mounted Police detachment.

The 12-person detachment was tasked with investigating the devastating crash between a tractor trailer and a bus carrying the Humboldt Broncos junior hockey team, which took 16 lives.

“In policing, we often talk to ourselves about being first responders to tragic incidents and one of the things we often do is we ask somebody out for a coffee to offer our condolences and our support to them,” Aikman told the board.

“I thought it would be appropriate if the Cornwall Community Police Service extended their support to the members of the Nipawin detachment of the RCMP.”

The Tim Hortons cards were “in lieu” of being able to take them out for coffee, Aikman explained, given the two detachments are 3,000 kilometers apart.

The police board accepted a letter of thanks from Nipawin RCMP Detachment Commander Darren Wouters.

“The members and Staff of the Nipawin Detachment would like to express our heart-felt gratitude to everyone from the Cornwall Community Police Service for the thoughtful card and all the Tim Hortons Gift Cards,” Wouters wrote.

“Again, thanks to each of you, we sincerely appreciate your support and thoughtfulness, it is helping.”