Thursday March 19 2015
New Spring Styles AD S OUR A SEE 11 ON PAGE 1
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TWELVE BUSTED IN DRUG RAID AT NEWTON TRAILER PARK ▼ ‘THE COMMUNITY IS FED UP,’ SURREY RCMP SERGEANT SAYS KEVIN DIAKIW
Surrey RCMP descended on a Newton trailer park Wednesday morning in what’s being called a significant drug bust. At about 8:30 a.m., Mounties executed four drug search warrants and arrested a dozen people at different residences at the Town and Country Trailer Park, near 8205 King George Blvd., in what was described as a “high-risk location initiative.” continued on page 4
▶ “... we’re not going anywhere. We’re going to continue to seek you out and disrupt your business.” SURREY RCMP SGT. DALE CARR
Surrey Coun. Mike Starchuk, who used to debrief first responders following critical incidents when he was a city firefighter, is calling for improved support for workers who are struggling with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. BOAZ JOSEPH
BEYOND THE BREAKING POINT ▶ A SURREY COUNCILLOR AND FORMER FIREFIGHTER PUSHES FOR BETTER FOLLOW-UP CARE FOR PTSD SUFFERERS KEVIN DIAKIW
His long career as a firefighter in North Surrey hit a rocky patch in 2005 when he responded to events so psychologically traumatic, they left lasting damage. As the truism goes, some things just can’t be unseen.
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The firefighter started exhibiting early signs of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), becoming increasingly agitated and having trouble sleeping. His love of hockey and working out all but disappeared. His symptoms worsened dramatically when he answered a call involving a teen who was murdered. Emotionally pummeled by the incident, he still toughed it out for five more years. But the stress continued to build, call after call, until he had to take a medical leave in 2010. On his later return, he became a junior captain and worked to change the way his fellow firefighters dealt with stress, encouraging them to speak out.
And management, he said, had to tune into the problem. “The people leading us, they’re the ones that have to step up and show compassion,” he is quoted as saying. “Lead differently. (Your people) are your tools. And you’ve got to take care of your tools.” Prior to his return to work, the junior captain was treated by mental health specialists and was cleared. Unfortunately, there was no follow-up care to make sure the stressors hadn’t returned. On March 3 of this year, he took his own life. He was 53. continued on page 11
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