Glenn Kauth, Edmonton, Alberta (Sun Media) - Cpl. Stephen Vigor wishes he was not awarded a bravery medal from the Governor General for his actions during the Mayerthorpe tragedy in 2005.
“I would rather have four officers here and not have received the award,” the Edmonton officer said yesterday, after returning from last week’s Medal of Bravery ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa.
Speaking at RCMP headquarters in Edmonton, Vigor said the Mayerthorpe case, which left four young Mounties dead at the hands of James Roszko, has changed his life.
“Obviously, it’s made me really understand how precious life is. I’ve stopped taking things for granted - my family, my children,” said Vigor, a 30-year veteran of the force.
Vigor, 54, and his partner were at Roszko’s farm helping with a vehicle theft investigation on March 3, 2005, when they heard shots from a nearby Quonset hut. While he initially thought the bangs were something knocking against the building, he soon realized he was under threat.
He then spotted Roszko, who fired two shots at him. Vigor fired back, causing the cop killer to retreat inside where he later died of self-inflicted gunshot wounds.
Vigor is credited with forcing Roszko to retreat and therefore preventing an even greater tragedy than the deaths of the four officers.
Still, he’s humble about his role in the incident.
“Not much went through my mind,” he said.
TRAINING KICKED IN
“It was the fact that training kicked in. I did what needed to be done to prevent Roszko from committing any further offences. My personal opinion was that Roszko was going to kill as many members as he could before it was over.”
The Mayerthorpe tragedy wasn’t, however, Vigor’s first experience dealing with the killing of a colleague.
He was also on the scene of the 2004 shooting of RCMP Cpl. Jim Galloway in 2004.
While both cases have affected him, Vigor said they haven’t changed the way he does his job. “I still come to work in the morning and do the job that’s required. Let’s face it - the general public needs us, and that’s what we come to work for.”
Vigor added that he doesn’t think he’s the hero his two children believe him to be.
“I feel quite certain that had any other member been there, they would have acted the same way.”
1 response so far ↓
1 Gendai // Mar 8, 2008 at 15:19
I’m glad this crazy man was stopped and this RCMP member was awarded but I can see that he was also one of the lucky ones to not have been chosed first to be shot.
I do hope he uses this opportunity to share his experience and in so doing help others to see the need to approach certain areas with caution.
Congratulations!
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