The friday headline refers to ‘harsh’ sentences being meted out to two men convicted of aiding James Roszko in the murder of four RCMP officers in Mayerthorpe, Alberta in 2004. I’d hardly call the sentences harsh.

The two men, related by marriage, provided Roszko a gun and a ride that took him back to his farm and allowed him to murder the four RCMP officers who were guarding it. They knew he was a cop hater, they knew he was violent, they claim he bullied them into helping.

Shawn Hennessey received a 15 year sentence and Dennis Cheeseman received 12 years. With reductions for time spent in custody, they receive a de facto sentence of 10 years and 7 years respectively. Then factor in parole after serving 2/3 of their sentences, that means that the actual time spent in prison will be roughly 6 years and 3 years. The four dead mounties will be dead for eternity.

To me, this men should have been tried for first degree murder just as surely as they themselves pulled the trigger. The murder of police officers, particularly the premediated and planned murder is one of the most vile crimes that can be committed. Police officers are there to serve and protect the citizenry, when they are murdered, the perpetrator takes peace of mind from all of us.

At one time, the murder of police officers and prison guards were one of the few crimes that would bring a death sentence. We’ve moved beyond death sentences which to me means that we need to keep anyone who actually pulls the trigger or contributes to the act off the streets for a very long time.

Harsh sentences? Not even a good start.

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