Saskatchewan RCMP Commanding Officer Rhonda Blackmore. (THE CANADIAN PRESS FILE/Michael Bell)

By Jaryn Vecchio

Mental Health

Head of Sask. RCMP describes mental journey for her and officers following mass stabbing attack

Sep 6, 2023 | 5:00 PM

It’s been a year since the mass stabbing attack on the James Smith Cree Nation and in the Village of Weldon and the Commanding Officer of the Saskatchewan RCMP is sharing her mental journey over that time.

Around 6:30 a.m. on Sept. 4, 2022, Rhonda Blackmore received a call that there were multiple injuries and deaths on the First Nation. Over the next couple of hours, she received update after update.

“They would call me back and say we have another confirmed deceased, so it became clear very quickly that this was a very serious event,” said Blackmore.

During the day, Blackmore worked out of the RCMP’s Regina Headquarters. While coordinating efforts to catch the attacker, she and her team were fast at work preparing emergency alerts and updating the public on the information they could provide.

Blackmore explained it was hard to stay focused as many people seemed to be in shock over the situation.

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“If you don’t do that job, that could impact the safety of other individuals and oftentimes that’s how I approach it and I think a lot of officers do (as well). That being said, it doesn’t mean that it doesn’t impact you. You’re heart breaks for these victims,” she said.

Eventually, the suspect was caught after a multi-day manhunt. While it put an end to the risk to public safety, it didn’t mean the job was done as they had to piece together what exactly happened and try and figure out a motive.

Blackmore noted when times got really bad, she ended up going for a run.

“That goes a long way for me, just being able to sort things out, put them in perspective, do what I need to do, focus on the task at hand, those types of things. I go to a lot of meetings where I start out ‘I was thinking this morning while I was running’ because it is an opportunity to clear your head.”

She joked when she finally got a couple of weeks off during this summer, she found herself doing a lot of manual work.

“That ability to just throw some rocks and haul some gravel for me is therapeutic, the neighbours always ask my spouse if they’re going to help (me) and he’s like ‘nope, I’m just gonna let her do her thing.’”

She hasn’t had to use any mental health services but knows of other officers who’ve had which makes her happy knowing they have the courage to ask for help. Sometimes, they were also forced to make some officers take time off.

“Sometimes for their well-being, you have to tell them ‘no, you need some time.’ They want to keep doing a good job, they want to serve their community and feel like they might let somebody down if they take some time,” Blackmore added.

The RCMP knew that the one-year mark since the mass stabbing may be triggering for some. That’s why Blackmore said she sent out a division-wide message highlighting the mental health supports available. She added RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme also sent out a memo to all officers across the country.

“One of the things we learned, unfortunately, from previous incidents such as the Humboldt bus crash or the La Loche school shooting is that it’s not just the day, the week, the month after it can be years down the road,” said Blackmore.

Moving forward, Blackmore noted the RCMP will continue to highlight its mental health support. Not just for those who responded to the mass stabbing attack, but for all officers as the day-to-day job can be very overwhelming at times.

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Jaryn.Vecchio@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @princealbertnow