Quinte West in shock

Posted By ERNEST KUGLIN AND EMILY MOUNTNEY, QMI AGENCY
Posted February 9th, 2010


News that the commanding officer of Canada's largest air force base has been arrested on two counts of first degree murder came as a shock to its host community.

People in offices with televisions watched the live news conference about the arrest of Col. Russ Williams in disbelief. Others watched streaming video on computers.

To say the host civilian community and the base are closely interlinked is an understatement. There's also an emotional attachment with the base, mainly due to repatriation services of soldiers killed in Afghanistan.

Forces personnel shopping at the base CANEX store refused to talk about the arrest of Williams, who has been base commander for about seven months.

"I don't want to comment ... I don't think so,'' said a soldier who asked not to be identified.

But, civilians in the community could barely contain their anger and disbelief.

"It's shocking. It's very sad, for the girls and for their families. How can someone of authority do something like this? He had earned the right to be respected, and no one would question that person's authority. Everyone trusted him," said Maggie George, a business owner in downtown Trenton.

The Chief of Air Staff, Lt.-Gen. André Deschamps, issued a formal statement about one hour after Monday's police press conference. Deschamps himself was a former wing commander at CFB Trenton.

"As Chief of the Air Staff, I take very seriously all allegations of service or criminal offences against one of our members. Although one is considered innocent until proven guilty, in light of the seriousness of the charges, and in consideration of the high level of responsibilities attached to the position of Wing Commander, an interim Wing Commander for 8 Wing Trenton will soon be appointed,'' said Deschamps.

8 Wing public affairs officer Capt. Annie Morin said the mood at the sprawling base is one of shock.

The majority of base personnel found out their boss had been arrested like anyone else -- through media outlets.

"Right now I'm speechless. We're all shocked by what has happened,'' she said.

Trenton Mayor John Williams was shocked as well. The mayor spoke regularly with Col. Russ Williams.

Despite Williams' high profile position in both the military and civilian communities, the mayor said his military counterpart seemed to keep a relatively low profile.

"Not in the sense that he didn't attend public functions, but in the sense that I found him really quiet. He seemed uncomfortable with speaking to groups of people,'' said the mayor. "I found it hard to talk to him on a personal level. Mostly it was all business.''

Williams said the reverberations surrounding the arrest and the continuing police investigation will be felt by the community for a long time.

"Put it this way, our community and CFB Trenton are interwoven. I know he's innocent until proven guilty, but nonetheless this is unbelievable. It's shocking,'' said Williams.

"I feel for the base personnel and I want them to know the arrest does not change the city's relationship with the base.''

Williams learned the base commander had been arrested just hours before his name was officially released at a news conference.

"I couldn't believe what I was hearing,'' said the mayor.

He last spoke with the 8-Wing commander Feb. 4.

"We talked regularly, sometimes three or four times a week. We were at a meeting to discuss the proposed memorial wall in Trenton for those soldiers killed in Afghanistan,'' he said.

At a local high school, both students and staff were also in shock.

More than 32 per cent of St. Paul Secondary School's student population have parents who are in the military.

"Both students and parents are a huge, integral part of our school community,'' said principal Marilynne Senese.

"We want them to know that we are here to support them in any way we can.''

The school has worked closely with the base on projects such as Habitat for Humanity, co-operative programs and air cadets.

A number of school staff watched video feed of the police press conference on computers. Senese added the school did not make a formal announcement to students regarding the arrest.

The school does have a youth officer trained to work with students and parents.

Quinte West is home to dozens of retired high-ranking Air Force officers.

Lt.-Col. (Ret.) Chris Colton knew Williams prior to retiring in 2002. As the executive director of the National Air Force Museum of Canada, located at CFB Trenton, Colton regularly talked to the base commander.

"You expect someone who sits in a position of authority to be beyond reproach,'' said Colton.

As a wing commander, Colton said the position touches just about every facet of both military and civilian public life.

He said Williams had just become of member of the Trenton Rotary Club.

"To think about all the local people that he (Williams) has dealt with. This is really difficult to process right now,'' said Colton.

Although there have been incidents where criminal charges have been laid against military personnel at CFB Trenton, Colton can't remember an incident of this magnitude occurring.

In his statement, Deschamps said the Air Force is supporting civilian authorities as the investigation continues.

"I am certain that Air Force personnel at 8 Wing will carry on with their duties, displaying the usual level of professionalism and sense of duty that they have always shown in the past. We will ensure that the Wing leadership and personnel are supported throughout this difficult period,'' he said.

"This situation affects us all and I wish to extend my deepest sympathies to the families of those affected by these tragic events.''

Deschamps added a review will be initiated by 1 Canadian Air Division, in Winnipeg, to determine the most appropriate action to take regarding Williams pending the outcome of the trial.