More than 2,000 people have already signed a "Stop the Madness" petition created by the spouses of police officers involved in a shooting at a Jubilee Avenue home in December 2006.
The petition calls on Ottawa to ensure violent criminals serve out maximum sentences and repeat offenders stay in jail.
Deputy mayor Brenda Leipsic signs petition while (from left) Chief Keith McCaskill, Mayor Sam Katz and officers’ wives Shelley Penner, Diane Murray and Linda Russell watch.
Shelley Penner, Diane Murray and Linda Russell appeared at city hall Monday to publicize their petition, which was also created by Jeannine Kruger.
Penner, Murray and Russell said they normally try not to dwell on the dangers their husbands face every day, but the Jubilee shooting -- which wounded Const. Jeremy Cull and saw constables Curtis Penner and Donald Murray sustain serious injuries -- pressed them into political action.
"After 28 years of being married to a police officer, you put it in the back of your mind," Russell said.
"You try not think about it because it will drive you crazy," Murray added.
The women said they decided to stop talking about crime around the kitchen table and start doing something positive.
Mayor Sam Katz said he can't imagine what the families of police officers go through every day, especially knowing car thieves deliberately attempt to injure peace officers.
"Enough of the sick game of targeting our officers and endangering innocent lives. Enough of slap-on-the-wrist sentencing and revolving-door justice," he said, applauding the women for attempting to convince Ottawa to help Winnipeg and Manitoba keep serial offenders behind bars.
"When Level Four car thieves drive a stolen car to attend their treatment program, you know there's a problem."
Katz and seven councillors signed the petition, which may be found at www.mts.net/~penz.
"We the undersigned are concerned citizens who demand criminals serve their maximum sentence handed down for violent crimes," it reads. "We demand stricter sentencing is given to repeat offenders and the revolving door for criminals is closed. We demand the minister of justice focus more attention on the well-being and protection of law-abiding citizens."
The women who created the petition said it was their idea to approach Katz -- not the other way around.
bartley.kives@freepress.mb.ca
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