“Do not become hardened by this tragic event”

IQALUIT — Several hundred Nunavummiut packed the Royal Canadian Legion Cadet Hall on March 8 to pay their respects to slain RCMP Const. Jurgen Seewald.

The following are texts and excerpts from eulogies given at the memorial service for the fallen officer, who died in a shooting in Cape Dorset three days earlier.

Cpl. Duncan MacInnis, commanding officer of the Cape Dorset detachment of the RCMP:

“I would like to thank you all for coming here today to help us pay our respects to a fine man and a great police officer, Const. Jurgen Seewald.

I’ve only had the pleasure of knowing Ziggy for four months, but in that brief time I found out what a true gentlemen is all about. I will refer to Const. Seewald as he would expect me to — as a friend. And if he could be here today he would tell me, who are you trying to kid? My name is Ziggy, nor mister, not constable — just Ziggy. Maybe Jurgen sometimes.

That was one of the great things about Ziggy: He knew who he was; he had no need for praise. He reminded me of that a short time ago when he was offered a promotion. And when he was told that he might have to put in a PRP he said — well, I can’t really tell you what he said. I’ll let you fill in the blanks. I can tell you that it came down to: They know what I’ve done, and if that’s not good enough, oh well, so be it.

Ziggy arrived in Cape Dorset in October and right away he started to fit into the community. His smile, his sense of humor was felt by all of us, and remarked upon by the community quite often.

Ziggy had a unique style of driving. He was an expert at moving objects. He broke both fenders on our truck, and a handrail in the office. In a recent snowstorm he drove off the road, and as pride would have it, did not want to call me to get him out. Only when the battery on his radio was failing did he call me.

Sherry, John, Eli and Rosie, Glen, my wife Sandy — we remember the smiles, the laughter, the all-too-short fun we had with him. I could tell you stories all day, but I’d rather tell you of the character, the true pride, the dignity with which he carried himself in day-to-day life.

Ziggy never engaged in idle gossip. That was not his style. If there was something on his mind he waited until he was with one of us — with either myself, John, Sherry or Glen — before he spoke about it. And more times than not, he kept it to himself. I can imagine to him, it was his business, and only his business.

He never spoke of things he saw when serving overseas — only the people, not the horror. His brave deeds he looked on as his private life, and we all respected him for that.

I know that I speak not only for those of us from Cape Dorset today, but for all the police officers in the world today, when I say that we will miss you, Ziggy, and we love you. I thank you for your wisdom, your honesty and most of all for your friendship.

I know that I will always remember a laugh and a smile every time I think of you. I hope some day we will meet again, and share the good times.”

Superintendent Chris Bothe, commanding officer of the RCMP’s V Division in Nunavut:

“It is a big commitment that police officers make to the community when they become a police officer. But it is a commitment that they willingly, joyfully and lovingly make, knowing that with someone, somewhere, somehow, they will make a difference, and the community will be a safer and better place to live.

Once in a while that commitment leads to the biggest sacrifice of all. Greater love has no man than he who lays down his life for his fellow man. Const. Seewald was that dedicated and that committed to the safety and well being of the community of Cape Dorset.

We, as police officers, cannot let what has happened change our spirit and respect for rights, values, benefits and property of the people we serve and protect.

And so I say to you, the police officers, the community: Do not become hardened by this tragic event. Compassion and sensitivity were Const. Seewald’s greatest strengths and should be his lasting legacy to the people and to those who continue to serve without fear, without favour, but with affection for one another.”

Peter Irniq, the commissioner of Nunavut:

On Monday of this week I learned that a Member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police has died. On behalf of all Nunavummiut I would like to express the deepest sympathies to the family of Const. Jurgen Seewald and to the members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

This is indeed a tragedy; it is a sad event for all residents of Nunavut. The people of Cape Dorset, in particular, are going through a lot of turmoil.

We, the residents of Nunavut, look to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police for protection and for service. We depend on the members to assist us when we need help and they are there to provide the help. Const. Seewald was responding to such a request. This loss should never have happened.

We know that, in time, we will heal. We also know that it will take the effort of all residents of Nunavut, working together, to heal from this tragedy. It is extremely important that we, Nunavut residents, work together with the members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to address the violence issues in Nunavut. We must fight for “zero tolerance” to violence. We must all be patient and survive this pain. I must emphasize that it will take the whole community of Nunavut, working together, to heal from this tragedy.