Media Coverage of 22nd Annual Police & Peace Officers’ Memorial in Calgary
Maryanne Pope & Const. Ian Vernon of the Calgary Police Service, Sept 27th 2020, photo by Darren Makowichuk, DMakowichuk@postmedia.com
Const. John Petropoulos’ widow, Maryanne Pope, lays wreath on behalf of families
On Sunday Sept 27th, 2020, JPMF Director Maryanne Pope attended the 22nd Annual Police & Peace Officers’ Memorial in Calgary, Alberta. In honour of the 20th anniversary of John’s death on Sept 29th, Maryanne was the family representative this year and laid a wreath on behalf of families who have lost a police or peace officer in the line of duty.
One of the JPMF co-founders, recruit classmate & close friend of John’s, Inspector Joel Matthews, was also in attendance at the service. Due to COVID19, there were significantly less officers in attendance and it was not a public event this year.
Here is the media coverage of the ceremony:
A sincere thank you to Global & CTV for the beautiful coverage of this important service. Thank you also for mentioning the JPMF’s new “Casket” workplace safety public service announcement. We greatly appreciate the support of the media over the years and simply could not do the public awareness work we do without you. Thank you.
Maryanne laying wreath on behalf of families, photo courtesy of CTV Calgary
About the John Petropoulos Memorial Fund
The JPMF was started shortly after the death of Calgary Police Constable John Petropoulos on Sept 29th, 2000. John was investigating a break and enter complaint when he stepped through a false ceiling, fell nine feet into the lunchroom below and died of a brain injury. There was no safety railing to warn him of the danger; the complaint turned out to be a false alarm.
John was 32.
The JPMF is a registered Canadian charity that raises public awareness about workplace safety issues and educates people about why & how to ensure their workplaces and the roads are safer for everyone, including emergency responders. For further information, please visit jpmf.ca.
