Published November 4 , 2009
By Silvet Ali• TLN
Photo: TLN
“It’s not a job or a duty, it’s a passion,” says the police chief
On October 27, Laval Police Chief Jean-Pierre Gariépy celebrated his 40th year being part of law enforcement in a long career which spans decades working at the Sûretédu Quebec (SQ) and the Laval Police Department (LPD).
Gariépy credits his decades and counting in law enforcement to a genuine desire to protect society from criminals and being a watchdog for the community. “I do it for those kids whose faces are on the posters. That’s what keeps me going,” said the veteran police chief from his office at Laval Police headquarters located at 2911 Chomedey blvd. “It’s not a job or a duty, it’s a passion.”
Family legacy
Growing up in Sainte-Thérèse, going into the police force was a natural choice for Gariépy. “My father was a police chief in Sainte-Therese, where I was raised, and six of my uncles were police officers too. It’s in my bones, my flesh,” he shared. But the police chief admitted that his father was his true inspiration. “My influence was mostly from my father. I was raised in a police car, and back in 1963, officers were also firefighters so I was always in that environment. It’s a passion.”
Fresh out of high school, Gariépy joined the l’École nationale de police du Québec and began his career in law enforcement at 18 years old. However, he wasn’t prepared for the tumultuous ups and downs his career would bring. “Even though you know it’s a dangerous job, it’s not easy to work with the worst part of society,” explained Gariépy. “You deal with people who have problems, who are under stress, and who are afraid. To deal with this sad part of society brings a lot of stress and frustration, and sometimes you don’t understand why justice is not acting the way you would like it.”
Harsh realites
Gariépy learned the harsh realities of life in law enforcement soon after he started his career as a police officer, losing a partner after only a few years. “In November 1973, my partner Normand Tremblay died in my arms. It was a very sad experience,” he shared. “My partner was in an accident in a police cruiser on Highway 40. He was hit by a huge truck and it happened right in front of me. When I got to his car, he was still breathing but only for a few minutes. He died in my arms.”
Gariépy went on to become a provincial field officer for the SQ and helped operate logistics during the 1990 Oka Crisis which left a major scar on the Quebec political and social landscape. “I learned a lot professionally, and a lot about myself. You lose your naiveté. I had to deal with police officers who didn’t believe in what they were doing anymore, good men. When I was in charge of the Oka crisis, it was probably the worst experience I ever had,” he said.
Once again, Gariépy was forced to deal with losing an officer in the line of duty with the death of SQ Corporal Marcel Lemay. “It was not a beautiful picture of the Quebec community, and for Canadians. It wasn’t good for anyone,” he explained. “It was very difficult and I was in the middle of it. I do have some good memories, but it was also the saddest period of my police career.”
The LPD
In 1998, Gariépy was appointed the police chief of the Laval Police Department. With 521 officers and six stations across the city, Gariépy is pleased with the success of his force. By 2012, he hopes to see the police department grow to 600 officers and create a new station on Saint-Martin blvd. Est. “We are talking with the city to address the need for more officers. The city has accepted the need,” he stated.
However, the deaths of three Laval Police officers since his time as chief still weigh heavily on his mind and the minds of the LPD’s over 500 officers. “The three police officers killed in the line of duty, Daniel Tessier, Valerie Gignac, and Eric Lavoie, were very sad moments for the organization.” he shared. But the tragic death of Sgt. Tessier by suspected drug trafficker Basil Parasiris in Brossard on March 2, 2007, is the one that affects the force to this day. The botched raid and subsequent acquittal of Parasiris in the shooting death of the police officer left a bad taste in the mouths of Laval Police. “It was like a slap in the face. Some people are still having difficulties with the entire situation, even 3 years later,” explained Gariépy. “But for me, as police chief, you need to help those people find balance in their professional and personal lives. Even though it was a bad experience, they are all back on the streets and I am 100 per cent sure they are responding correctly to every investigation. That is my job, to bring them back.”
Gariépy is continuing to look forward to the future as police chief of the Laval community and sees himself as exactly where he should be. “After 40 years, the flame is still burning,” he shared. “My best moments are when I go back into the police cruiser, wear the blue uniform, and get on the streets. I went on patrol with my officers last summer and helped make an arrest and it felt great. I still enjoy it.”