As we approach the Thanksgiving Weekend, I would like to thank the Belleville Police Service for giving us the news that we truly needed to hear.
Chief Murray Rodd issued a public statement yesterday giving an update on the condition of Constable Jeff Smith, who was badly wounded when he was shot multiple times defending the Sons of Jacob Synagogue on September 20th.
Rodd says Smith continues to make steady progress and is improving each day and that they remain encouraged by his resilience and recovery.
All of that was music to my ears, for multiple reasons.
Right after the shooting, some members of the national media had questioned the speed of information getting out to the public.
Meanwhile, I can say personally that Belleville Police have displayed over the past three weeks that they are on the leading edge of media engagement and there has not been a single time where I didn’t get the information I needed in real time to properly inform the public at all hours of the day and night.
That now extends to yesterday’s update, which involves a very personal story of resilience and recovery from a family and a service still dealing with a traumatic event and a length recovery process.
That message often gets lost in the shuffle. Right now, when people including me need to hear it, Belleville Police have filled that void with news that one local hero is slowly but steadily recovering. That is something to be truly thankful for.
I’m Paul Martin and that’s what I see looking Beyond the Headlines.
