Messages of Appreciation

Police saved my life when they arrested me. I was a mess and would have killed someone or myself. When the police arrested me I went to prison took all advantage of all programs. Thanks to CPS. I now do presentations sharing my story with thousands of youth here in Alberta. CPS changes lives every single day for the better.

A giant thank you to District 4 Community Resource Officer Constable Miguel Lay.
We are so thankful for your dedication, attention and support of Greater Forest Lawn 55+ Society. THANK YOU Constable Lay for all you do for our community!

Good policing is an essential factor in any successful society .
Police work often goes unacknowledged and sometime not appreciated. I know first hand how our police deals with most difficult issues every single day. Police takes the risk to help and protect others. More important than ever, citizens in Canada must support the police. Calgary once was the safest city in Canada ( one million people or more). I always stop when I see a police officer to say thank you for the work they do to keep us safe. I encourage all Calgarian to do the same. Take a minute of your time and thank them for the work they do every single day to keep us safe.

Thank you so much for your hard work each and every day. It has been said before, but we are the silent majority who are so grateful for your dedication, sacrifice and service. It is often a thankless job, and more often than not, we don’t know the dangers you have protected us from each and every day. You put yourself in harms way to protect strangers, neighbors, and sometimes friends. You live the unimaginable and get up the next morning to do it all over again. Thank you cannot clearly express the depth of our gratitude to each and every one of you. May God bless you abundantly with strength, wisdom, courage, and peace for a much needed sleep. With a grateful heart. ❤️

Thank you Murray and Jackson for thinking of this initiative. We all depend on the Police for our protection, yet rarely get the opportunity to thank them for their work.

Thank you to the members of the Police Service and the RCMP for your work. It is much appreciated!

I am so glad that the Beacons of Hope initiative was launched last week. I wasn’t able to go to the gathering, but didn’t know about the on-line version of givinig support. I am so grateful you are there. Over our almost 70 years in Calgary, we have seldom needed to call for your help,, but rely on the knowledge that you just a phone call away. I was very moved by Mark Neufeld’s article in the Herald this morning. The dark times come, I know. The husband of a niece of mine died by his own gun many years ago in Saskatchewan. He was a high ranking, much loved police officer. Things just got to be too much.

Please know that you are appreciated and respected even though the loud voices of hate and criticism often take over. Thank you for your service and your care for us.

Thank you all, for all you do, each and every day. So many others have said thank you so eloquently, I echo those thoughts; we are the silent majority, who have never expressed our gratitude. You are appreciated, we support you. Thank you. God Bless you. ? ❤️

Thank you. I rarely interact with you and yet I know you’re there. I appreciate you and all you do. You are so respected and cared about. Alway remember for every loud hater there are so so many more grateful folks who you may never see. We are here by the hundreds of thousands!

I feel so grateful for what the men and women of CPS provide me and my community. I am fortunate to know hundreds of service members and their families and can say that they are a diverse group of great humans with the best of intentions. Their service does not come without its costs. We need to acknowledge that policing is likely the hardest profession out there. What the service members sacrifice in regards to their own health, mental health and well-being needs to be considered and we need to always support them. We have a responsibility in seeing the human behind the badge. We do not have community or society without rules, standards or regulations, in the absence of reasonable enforcement we have chaos. So again I’m very grateful for what our service members do for us all to ensure we can live a safe and peaceful life in this beautiful city. Thank you.

Please don’t give up hope. There are more people out here who respect all of our Police Force for their caring and helping to keep us all safe. We may not always be as vocal but we are here cheering you on and valuing each and everyone of you who decide to become police men and women! Keep up the good work.

Each day they risk their lives
For those they have not met
They fight for what’s right
They’re sworn to Serve and Protect

They come when you need help
And they take constant abuse
and yet, no matter what
They would lay down their life for you.

Let’s not ever take them for granted
But treat them with respect
THANK YOU for all you do, CPS
We shall never forget!

Thank you for all that CPS does to keep our city safe. I have seen first hand working at a high school, the impact that School Resource Officers have with our students. They are approachable and help build healthy relationships where students feel comfortable going to them when in need.

In my early career I practiced criminal law and consistently noted the quality of Calgary police, who would overwhelmingly conduct themselves conscientiously when under cross-examination, unwilling to distort the truth to urge the Court to convict.

My heart aches with the recent murder of Sgt. Andrew Hartnett, at the hands of heartless youths whose car door entrapped the officer as they bolted from a routine traffic stop.

I recently supported local residents in standing up to so-called “Freedom” protesters, who disrupted Beltline residents and businesses weekly with their loud and rowdy opposition to pandemic mandates and was impressed with the calm and neutrality of the police maintaining a thin blue line between the two groups.

It is unfortunate that the “thin blue line” arouses in some Calgarians a negative connotation, and I hope a new symbol will be found to allow our police to express grief over fallen members and solidarity and recoup the pride they should feel over their highly professional police force.

Sending so much gratitude for all Members for all they have done. I cannot thank you enough. Heinz was such a proud member of the force and he would be busting his buttons with price over the Beacons of Hope, as I am doing today.

Thank you so very much!

There are so many officers, and those behind the scenes, that do such incredible and selfless work.

I see you.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

To the members of the CPS, thank you for protecting and keeping us and our communities safe. Every time you go on shift, you are putting others before yourself; showing compassion, care, kindness and ferocity when required to protect those who can not protect themselves. You are brave because you move towards what is frightening and difficult for the public to manage. You make many sacrifices and carry heavy experiences on your hearts that can seem to be unappreciated; but know that we are grateful and stand with you. You are Heroes.

Thank you to the founders, organizers of Beacon of Hope, and thank you to the entertainers who gave of their time to show support. Your message of positivity and community connection is exactly what our members need at this very divisive time in the history of policing. Over the years, I have helped career changers who want to become police officers prepare for the rigorous and challenging CPS interview process. These applicants come from a variety of ethnic and occupational backgrounds from teachers, to plumbers, rock climbers, mail carriers, sous chefs, accountants and steel workers. All have a keen desire to become an officer, and serve the public. They bring with them diverse professional and personal experience making CPS members rich in skills that are demonstrated daily. There is always room to learn, grow and improve in any organization, and showing support only makes an organization want to get better. This is why I’m thankful that Beacon’s of Hope has recognized a time when our officers and their families need a morale boost and need to know that they are appreciated.

Dear Officers,

Words cannot express appreciation for all you do, and all that you are. We thank you & your families for the plentiful sacrifices made to keep us safe. It’s a thankless job yet you put your lives on the line for ours. An example of God’s love on this side of heaven. Know that, you are prayed for. You are loved beyond measure. You are honored. You are valued. You do not go unnoticed. We are proud of you. Keep your head held high & hold the line. I leave you with this video, hope it touches your hearts as it did mine. Blessings & love.

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I worked with Calgary City Police when I was an RN working in psychiatry at the Holy Cross Hospital. So I know first hand the level of compassion, bravery, and competence, these men and women bring to difficult and dangerous situations. Please know that there are many citizens like myself that greatly appreciate the service you all give to Calgarians, up to the ultimate sacrifice.

Thank you to CPS officers whose dedication to their profession often goes without acknowledgement. It it often forgotten that behind the uniform is a real person with hopes and dreams. We see you. Thank you.

My most memorable personal experience with the CPS is during the 2013 flood. You were a calm through the literal storm. Thank you, CPS members, for your service then and now, in difficult times and in times where you are seemingly not appreciated. We need you and are grateful for you.

We have ALWAYS appreciated our police. My father in law is a 26 year member. I couldn’t be more proud of our members each and every day. As a medic, you’ve been there and had my back every call. We have yours too.

I cannot tell you enough how grateful I am for the CPS. Last year, I was victimized and the officers and detectives I dealt with were so helpful, kind, supportive and a beacon of strength. They were so kind to offer tissues when I cried (often), ensure I was getting professional help and sincerely made me feel heard.
I know there is work to be done by us all regarding racial justice and things are far from perfect. That does not mean that there isn’t good work being done – we need to build upon that together.
The emotional toll I’ve been going through is mind boggling to me. I do not know how these women and men get up every day and do the work they do. Thank you to all of you for your time, hearts and minds.

My father, A W Whitehead and brother Don were both members of the Calgary Police so I know first hand what challenges and bad things they have to deal with on a daily basis. It’s a totally different occupation than what most people have. Most people don’t appreciate the police until they need help. I hope they can learn to realize that every day when a policeman or policewoman goes to work, they are there to help.

CPS I appreciate your service. I RESPECT you. I’m deeply grateful to you for your service. I’m saddened by the lack of of respect and appreciation you receive from the police commission and city council. Keep doing the great job you do everyday keeping us all safe. Shout out to canine and equine constables.