| "Greater love hath no man than this, than a man lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13.
Mr. Speaker I am humbled and honoured to stand with my friend the Member for Ottawa Centre to pay tribute to a fallen police officer, Constable Eric Czapnik.
Eric was the oldest police recruit in the history of the Ottawa Police Services.
But it was as if he was destined to be a police officer and serve our tightly knit community.
Born in Warsaw Constable Czapnik immigrated to Canada in 1990.
He was everything we could have asked of a new Canadian.
In Ottawa, Eric worked at Johnson's Business Interiors then decided to follow in his father's footsteps- a 30 year police officer in Poland.
In 2007 Eric was assigned to the East Division in Ottawa.
Now he is among Canada's fallen police officers.
His loss still haunts us in Ottawa. More than 8,000 people attended his funeral. School children lined the streets, reminiscent of the Highway of Heroes.
Constable Czapnik is remembered in homes across the national capital.
We still think of him and his family.
We cherish his service and we pray for his peace.
The "Policeman's Prayer" eloquently says:
"When I start my tour of duty God, Wherever crime may be, as I walk the darkened streets alone, Let me be close to thee."
On behalf of Tim Hudak and the Official Opposition I offer our heartfelt condolences to the Czapnik family and particularly to Eric's wife Anna and his four children. |
