Residents gather at Mayerthorpe Fallen Four Memorial Park on the 20th anniversary of the tragedy that claimed the lives of four RCMP officers. (XM105/Neil Shewchuk)

By Jordan Rein, Neil Shewchuk

March 3, 2005

Mayerthorpe marks 20th anniversary of the ‘Fallen Four’ tragedy with memorial service

Mar 3, 2025 | 1:26 PM

Twenty years after the tragic deaths of four RCMP officers, the community of Mayerthorpe came together on Monday to remember and honor the lives of Constables Brock Myrol, Anthony Gordon, Lionide ‘Leo’ Johnston, and Peter Schiemann.

The officers were shot and killed in the line of duty on March 3, 2005, by James Roszko, who took his own life shortly afterward.

The community, still carrying the weight of the loss, gathered at the Fallen Four Memorial Park on a chilly March morning for a public memorial service.

Among those in attendance was Reverend Donald Schiemann, whose son, Peter Schiemann, was one of the four officers lost that day.

“This event, this ceremony, it just brings back so many memories,” said Schiemann, “The fact that so many people came out today to honour the memory of these four men… it’s incredible. With all the division in Canada today, it’s nice toto see people coming together for something like this.”

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When asked whether events like this bring the community any closer to closure, Schiemann paused before offering his perspective. “I don’t know what closure is,” he said, “It’s an ongoing thing. You learn to live with it, and it becomes part of who you are. My son, Peter, was killed in the line of duty, and the other families, I’m sure, feel the same way. It’s a burden we never wanted, it’s something we’ll live with for the rest of our lives.”

“We are thankful to God,” says Schiemann. “We have the certainty of knowing we will see Peter again because of what Christ did for us at the cross and the empty tomb.”

Schiemann hopes the event will also draw attention to challenges faced by RCMP officers today, who continue to sacrifice for the sake of serving others.

Residents gather at Mayerthorpe Fallen Four Memorial Park March 3, 2025. (XM105/Neil Shewchuk)

Janet Jabush, mayor of Mayerthorpe, also attended the service and spoke about the significance of the anniversary. “It’s gut-wrenching every time we mark this occasion,” she said. “But the flyover, with the CF-18s overhead — I think the RCMP did a great job organizing today.”

When asked whether the ceremony brought the community any closer to closure, Jabush echoed Schiemann’s thoughts. “20 years is a long time,” she said, “and we’ve marked this anniversary before—5, 10, 15 years—but every time we come together, there is a measure of closure. It’s never complete, but it’s part of how we cope. Grief is difficult, and we all deal with it in our own way. A lot of people here, in Mayerthorpe, live in the moment every day, so it’s not one overwhelming lump.”

Statue of Fallen Four Officer Leo Johnston as seen March 3, 2025 at Fallen Four Memorial Park in Mayerthorpe. (XM105/Neil Shewchuk)

Albertans have been remembering the Fallen Four and expressing their gratitude to RCMP in other ways across the province.

Barry Oram, pastor of Family Ministries at Crossroads Church in Red Deer, says the church has been expressing thanks to local RCMP detachments ever since hosting Constable Brock Myrol’s funeral in 2005.

“We’ve been taking chocolates, flowers, and a note of encouragement to central Alberta detachments,” says Oram. “That includes Innisfail, Blackfalds, Sylvan Lake, and two detachments in Red Deer.”

Oram adds other community members are thanking RCMP officers, including the mother of one of the slain officers sending flowers, as well as a friend of Constable Anthony Gordon sending cookies.

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