It was a day remembered by many – a shooting in St. Albert that left an RCMP officer dead, and another injured – but for one couple, the first on the scene, the events of that day are still haunting their day-to-day lives.
Rodney and Irene Codner were inside the Apex Casino early Saturday, January 17, when Constables David Wynn and Auxiliary Constable Derek Bond were shot.
The couple was also the first to help Wynn – the first to perform First Aid on him – the rest of the horrific incident was so traumatic; the couple did not want to go into details.
Instead, they’re hoping to shed light on what they call a lack of support for victims of crime.
The Codners said memories of what happened have spilled over, affecting all areas of their lives – the couple says they have been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.
In the weeks following the incident, the couple has had problems getting connected with the supports they need.
“You’re given a number, you’re told to call there, phone that number – you can’t,” Rodney Codner said. “I don’t know what supports there are, I don’t know what supports are supposed to be able to get, I don’t know if anybody does.”
Now, the couple is seeking a counsellor in St. Albert who has offered her services free of charge.
However, the couple said getting access to the counsellor came after they ran into frustrations dealing with various organizations, they just happened to speak to the right person who could help them.
Rodney has also had to take a leave from his job in the oilpatch as a result of the incident.
To help, a family friend has set up a GoFundMe page to help the couple cover costs they could incur.
With files from Danelle Boivin
