Remembering the Fallen

As Ron and Grace Johnston and their family continue to deal with the aftermath of so senselessly having lost a loved one in the line of duty, they don’ t like to talk about it in interviews. They don’ t want to be front and centre, they don’ t want the spotlight. But they also cannot let people forget.
It’ s been 10 years since the Owl River couple’ s son Leo was killed with three other RCMP members on a farm near Mayerthorpe. The Fallen Four, Johnston, Anthony Gordon, Peter Schiemann and Brock Myrol, were ambushed on the morning of March 3, 2005 by a deranged man with a semi-automatic assault rifle as they guarded a storage shed on the man’ s property.

Even during the five-week RCMP inquiry into the deaths that wrapped up in 2011, when it was learned that Leo - a respected RCMP marksman and a son who loved nothing more than exploring the family’ s Owl River traplines with his dad - when it was learned he was the only one who managed to draw his weapon and fire at their assailant during the instant the bloody tragedy took place, even then, Grace shied away from cameras and interviews.
“Not today,” was all she told a Globe&Mail reporter outside the Stony Plain courthouse where the inquiry was taking place.
Ten years after their son was killed, the contents of that 26-page inquiry are something the Johnstons hold dear, but talk little publicly about. Grace is more comfortable speaking about the support the family continues to receive.
“Ten years later and we’ ll never forget. We extend our sincere thanks to all who still, in thoughts and deeds, remember our son, Leo, and his colleagues Peter, Anthony and Brock,” she said.

The inquiry says their son, although probably mortally wounded, managed to fire his weapon, targeting the gunman’ s midsection. The bullet, however, smashed into the butt of a pistol in the man’ s belt. A second shot may have been attempted as the 32-year-old constable lay on the ground, but his gun jammed, reportedly from clothing or fabric being lodged in the gun’ s mechanism.
The inquiry report, completed by Judge Daniel Pahl in February of 2011 also lists several recommendations that were intended to minimize chances of similar tragedies taking place again.
Better communications, RCMP access to carbine rifles, and better body armour were just some of the recommendations made.
In recent weeks, the RCMP has come under scrutiny for the time it has taken to initiate the recommendations. At the recently released fatality inquiry into the June 2014 slaying of three Moncton RCMP officers by a man armed with assault rifles, a retired RCMP senior bureaucrat who presented the report says the 2011 recommendations from the Mayerthorpe tragedy were not in place. According to a Jan. 16 CBC.ca article, retired RCMP assistant commissioner Alphonse MacNeil said the training and availability of carbine rifles to all detachments has “taken far too long.”
In a prepared statement marking the tenth year since her family was changed forever, Grace says, in part:
“Ten years later, what has been or is disheartening in my opinion is that the more things are made to appear or are said to have changed, the more they appear to remain the same.”

Today, according to Alberta RCMP headquarters spokesperson Sgt. Josee Valiquette, the recommendations from the 2011 inquiry are in place.
“There are carbine rifles in RCMP detachments throughout Alberta,” she said, adding that the body armour recommendation is also in place. “Hard body armour is also available in every RCMP detachment in the province.”
The province also now has two special RCMP Emergency Response Teams.
When asked if the force would recognize the 10-year marker of the Mayerthorpe tragedy, Valiquette said each year there is a recognition of all RCMP who have fallen in the line of duty.
“The RCMP marks these tragic losses at the annual RCMP service in September,” she said. “Since 1876, 236 RCMP officers have died - 51 in Alberta.”
And like the families of all of those who have fallen, like the Johnstons, Valiquette says the RCMP organization will never forget their sacrifices.
“Protocols are in place to ensure their sacrifice is never forgotten,” she said.

Grace said her family remembers, grieves and honours their loss every day.

Across the community - with many being given out at last weekend’ s Festival of Speed event - the Johnstons have made available the Fallen Four pins that were issued as fundraisers after the Mayerthorpe tragedy.
Grace said it was her hope that people would wear the pins to remember. Last weekend, the pins were sold at the Royal Canadian Legion concession with all proceeds going to local charities.
This weekend, the pins will be available on the ice at the Lac La Biche Kinsmen Pond Hockey event, again with all proceeds going to charity.
Moment of Silence
The Lac La Biche County council will honour the tragedy with a moment of silence at noon during their regular council meeting today (Tuesday, March 3).
“It’ s important for us to remember those who sacrificed so much for us. Our community’ s loss was significant on March 3, 2005, the day RCMP Constable Leo Johnston, and his fellow officers, gave up their lives in the line of duty,” sad Lac La Biche County Mayor Omer Moghrabi. “The “warrior spirit” that Constable Johnston demonstrated is an inspiration to us all.”
The mayor is asking residents, businesses and organizations across Lac La Biche County to take the time to remember the fallen.
“Lac la Biche County residents and organizations are also encouraged to pause and honour the Fallen Four to show we remember,” the mayor said.
Memorial Scholarship
In the coming days, a joint announcement between Portage College and the municipality regarding a previously-created endowment fund in Leo Johnston’ s name is expected to be made public.

Lionide (Leo) John ston was 32 years old had been a professional motorcycle racer and shared a passion for police work with his twin brother Lee who is also an RCMP member. Brock Myrol was 29 and enjoyed playing the guitar. Anthony Gordon was 28 and liked to fish and snowmobile. Peter Shiemann was 25 and was an avid skydiver.