North Bay Police Constable's Geoff Whittle, Darcy Wahl and Zach Dagg show their wristbands made in memory of Constable Andrew Keating. PHOTO BY CHRIS DAWSON.
North Bay Police Constable Zach Dagg is trying to take a positive spin on the passing of Constable Andrew Keating.
Dagg, who turned 30 today, misses his colleague who took his own life in May of 2014 at the age of 29.
“Andrew was intelligent is the first thing that comes to mind, a very compassionate and caring person, very dedicated and just an all around great guy, great police officer,” said Dagg.
“I can’t say enough about him.”
Since then the police service honoured the fallen officer with a plaque on the front lawn of North Bay Police headquarters and today handed over a cheque for $1125 to the Nipissing Chapter of the Canadian Mental Health Association during a morning press conference.
“Is it emotional, yes a little bit but I would say it’s more of a positive day today,” said Dagg.
“We honoured him a few months ago at the one year anniversary of his death was a more emotional day but today it’s something positive where we are looking to raise awareness and get people the help that they need.”
Dagg was part of a four person in-house committee which helped raise the money through the sale of “Keats” wristbands and hosting a police fundraising barbecue.
Georges Kristolaitis, executive director of the Nipissing chapter of the Canadian Mental Health Association, accepted the cheque which will go towards local programming.
He says today’s awareness shows that police officers are human beings too.
“They are subjected to all the strains and stresses human beings are subject to, including mental illness,” he said after the press conference.
“It means not just dollars but it means support and the understanding of the cause of good mental health and the police service here has seen the impact of what poor mental health does.
“It’s about coming out of the closet to find out what mental illness is all about and to have a police service support that is coming out and acknowledging and putting out a plaque in their yard is fantastic.”
Dagg believes no one is immune to mental illness.
“In the policing community, a lot of the time it’s something that is ignored or maybe seen as a weakness and that’s something that really needs to change in order to try to reduce the stigma that’s currently associated with mental illness and as a police service we need to set that example for the rest of the community.”
Dagg adds that counselling is available around the clock at the police service. He says they aren’t sure at this time if they will make this an annual fundraiser in memory of their friend.
