Thank you, Constable Siemann!

As we wrote in our last post, Constable Derrick Siemann of the Winnipeg Police Service came to our class to talk about bullying. Each of the students wrote Constable Siemann a thank you letter afterward, to show their appreciation to him. Constable Siemann was in the school yesterday, speaking with the Grade 5s. I passed on the students' letters to him at that time, and he was thrilled to get them. This morning, when I opened my email, there was already a response from him. Not only had he read all of our letters, but he answered all of the students' questions as well - wow! The students (and I!) were very impressed, and excited to read his responses - here they are for you to read, as well...

Hello Mr. Hoeppner and Students of Room 18 (Radisson School)

I just wanted to thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak to you about the important topic of bullying and for sending me all those letters with those kind words and super questions which I am going to try and answer for you.  So, in no particular order, here are my answers:  See if you can pick out which questions you asked me J

Yes I have seen a smaller kid bully a bigger kid

Yes I have seen bullying in Kindergarten and Grade 1

I’m sorry I can’t give you a ride on my motorcycle ( it only has one seat!)

I will tell your brother once he becomes a police officer not to throw you in jail!

Yes I love my job

Yes it is true some people do pretend to be police officers but only real police officers have photo identification and a police badge

Being a police officer can be scary but we are very well trained and I know how to take care of myself

I knew I wanted to be a police officer when I was in high school grade 12

I loved working undercover because I didn’t have to shave my beard!

I really liked school when I was younger

Yes I was bullied when I was in middle school but unfortunately I did not tell anyone because I did not know better.  I wish I would have received the information that I gave you

No I haven’t been bullied as an adult

I have visited over 200 classrooms over the past two years, wow!

I have seen way too many cases of bullying, unfortunately over 150

The “badest” case of bullying I have seen was were a little boy was beat up and had to go to the hospital

Thankfully I do not see bullying every day, in fact I know the message is getting out there that bullying is wrong

It took me over 5 days to make my slide show

Yes it can be hard being a police officer but it is worth all the hard work

My favorite part about being a police officer is when I get to give presentation to kids

Yes being a police officer can be exciting especially when we have to drive our police cars with the lights and siren on

No I haven’t pepper sprayed anyone

My job is really important to me.  I take it very seriously and I am very thankful to be able to serve and protect the citizens of Winnipeg

Yes I drive a cop car, usually a black and white one but sometimes a white “ghost” car

The rarest type of bullying is emotional bullying and no I don’t see too much of that

When I went to school I saw physical bullying the most and it made me sad

No I did not have another job before I became a cop other than I did deliver the newspaper when I was 12 years old

When I was little I wanted to be a hockey player, Go Jets Go!!!

Even though I am teaching in schools now, I do still catch criminals if I see one committing a crime

My 2^nd favorite police job after riding the motorcycle was when I walked the beat and patrolled downtown

No I don’t have a partner, I work all by myself

I have never used my gun other than when we practice shooting at our police firing range

Anyone can try to become a police officer.  All you have to do is stay in school, work hard, be kind (no bullying) and always try your best.

Yes I like dogs, I have a big black lab, her name is Mia.  I also have a rabbit and a cat

I hope everyone has a great day, take care.

Constable Derrick