Okanagan front-line workers mourn loss of RCMP officer, vow to carry on important work

A bouquet of flowers was left in front of the local police station with a card that read, "Thank you for your service, your bravery, your devotion to your duty, Rest in Peace."

The flag at the Kelowna RCMP detachment was flying at half mast Wednesday in honour of Burnaby RCMP Const. Shaelyn Yang.

A bouquet of flowers was also left in front of the local police station with a card attached that read, “Thank you for your service, your bravery, your devotion to your duty, Rest in Peace.”

Yang was stabbed to death Tuesday while attending a homeless encampment at a city park.

“Our hearts and minds are with the RCMP today, ” said Kevin Mead, manager of Kelowna Bylaw Services. “We stand shoulder to shoulder with them on their loss”.

Bylaw officers work closely with RCMP in many cases including at the outdoor sheltering site in the downtown’s north end.

“The work that we undertake on any given day, in particular the police, there is a willful acceptance of risk in what we do.”

While bylaw officers and other front-line workers face challenges with all sectors of society, working with a vulnerable population, where there is a much higher rate of mental health and addiction issues, can come with added risk.

Mead confirmed that officers have found themselves in situations that could have escalated or been subjected to close calls.