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6 stouffville suntribune thursday august 9 2007 suntnbune 6290 main st stouffville on l4a 1g7 wwvvyotkregioncom publisher ian proudfoot editor in chief debora kelly business manager robert lazurko director interactive media technology john futhey director advertising york region printing distribution general manager barryblack bobdean director circuiation systems lynn pashko editorial hero made ultimate sacrifice detconst robert plunkett was cut down last thursday in the prime of his life and in the line of duty and while detconst plunkett was the first york regional police officer to die on the job in more than 20 years it is a grisly reminder of just how risky and at times deadly the profession can be detconst plunkett was investigating the theft of airbags from cars in markham last thursday just before dawn that fateful day when he approached the open drivers side door of one of the vehicles to arrest the driver the man allegedly put the car into reverse ran up over a curb across a lawn and shrubs and pinned the 22year vet eran between the open door and a tree when the suspect tried to drive away detconst plunkett was dragged onto a nearby lawn and thrown from the car assisting officers rushed to help their com rade but detconst plunkett later died in hospital from his injuries one man who paid his respects to the fallen officer at a barrie funeral home chalked the death up to this he lost his life because of something stupid someone did this newspaper couldnt agree more it is clear the nature of police work means it can be unpredictable and fraught with risk yet day after day york regions officers get out there on our streets patrolling investigating and apprehending those who have no respect for the law even when they are off duty officers spring into action if they believe a crime is being committed or someone needs help that is a tremendous 247 responsibility thats not asked of many other professions but police officers accept it as a matter of duty sure most of the time you see our com munitys police officers at the side of the road writing traffic tickets or on standby at an event to keep the peace in case a ruckus breaks out increasingly you also see them interact ing with the public building relationships withyoung people in our schools and get ting involved in our ethnically diverse com munities by organizing a friendly game of cricket for example as they did in vaughan recently it is without a doubt a job that requires dedication and tragically as we saw last week often the ultimate sacrifice detconst plunkett is the eighth officer to die in the line of duty in york region and the first since 1984 one officer was fatally shot several times in the chest while responding to a burglary call another tripped on high voltage wires while investigating a car that crashed into a hydro pole what most of us dont see is the heat ed and outofcontrol situation that often awaits police at the door when they respond to domestic violence calls or when an armed suspect is surrounded and an arrest is being made things can go from routine to critical in a matter of minutes particularly when you are dealing with the most dangerous members of society granted police officers are trained to handle these kinds of situations they learn to quickly analyse and make the best deci sions that bring about desired results they are wellequipped with driver training firearms safety and bulletproof vests but they cant possibly predict- the unpredictable and for this they risk pay ing with their lives that is why our police officers keepers of public safety deserve recognition and respect not just following tragedy but every day now is the time to thank them for their courage strength dedication compassion and belief that they can make our communities a better place martin luther king jr said faith is taking the first step even when you dont see the whole staircase detconst plunkett did that last thursday morning and thousands of his colleagues across the country will do that again today and tomorrow and forever more for this we are grateful our sincere condolences go to the fam ily friends and colleagues of detconst plunkett as they struggle to make sense of this sudden arid traumatic loss a police officers prayer lord i ask for courage courage to face and conquer my own fears courage to take me where others will not go i ask for strength strength of body to protect others and strength of spirit to lead others i ask for dedication dedication to my job to do it well dedication to my community to keep it safe give me lord concern for others who trust me and compassion for those who need me and please lord through it all be at my side author unknown family issues statement on officer the family of detconst robert plunkett released a statement prepared by the fall en officers wife sonja yester day afternoon the plunkett family would first like to thank the emergency responders who attended the scene on thurs day morning and who made every effort possible to save robs life in his greatest time of need we would also like to thank york regional police and the york regional police association for its unwav ering support and comfort and the many expressions of sympathy we have received our family members friends and the community at large have also offered an overwhelming show of sup port and sympathy and we are grateful and touched members of the media are to be commended for the manner in which this tragic event was covered balanc ing the communitys need to know with respect for the familys need for privacy rob loved his job and was a dedicated police officer he was totally committed to his calling while balancing his family responsibilities he was deeply loved as a father and a husband and will be sorely missed itisthefamilyshopethatthe persons responsible for robs death will be held accountable for their senseless actions letters policy tliesuntvibune welcomes your letters all submissions must be less than 400 words and must include a daytime telephone number name and address thcsuntribuncreservcs the right to publish or not publish and to edit for clar ity and space letters to the editor the suntribune 6290 main sl stouffville on l4a ig7 jmasonyrrngcont editorial editor jim mason jmosonyrmgcom interactive media marketing advertising manager dawna andrews dandravsyrmgcom advertising retail manager staceyallen sallcnyrmgcom classified manager ann campbell acampbellyrmgcom assistant classified manager bonnie rondeau brondcauyrmgcom production team leader sherry day sdayyrnigcom canxsan ckobtfons ak board mooter qcab editorial 9056402612 fax9056408778 advertising 9056402612 classified 18007433353 fax 9056408778 distribution 9056402612 suntnbune a york region media group community newspaper the suntribune published every thursday and saturday is a division of the metroland media group ltd a whollyowned subsidiary of torstar corporation metroland is comprised of 100 community publications across ontario the york region newspaper group includes the liberal serving richmond hill and thomhill vaughan citizen the erabanner newmarketaurora markham economist sun georgina advocate york region business times north of the city yorkregioncom and york region printing