J. J. Laurent FOREST

IN MEMORIAM RCMP Chief Superintendant J.J. LAURENT FOREST A Tribute Thirty five years ago, a father died. Like all policemen, Larry served his country quietly, without fanfare. He took a bullet in a drug raid and survived. He located the farm house in St. Luc where the killers of Quebec cabinet Minister Pierre Laporte were hiding in a secretive fully equipped underground cave that took months to build. The police found nothing on their first two lengthy searches. His persistent belief led to a third raid during which a weary accomplice gave the murderers up. His men loved him, as he led by example. He dropped in on them on weekends and at nights when they were on lonely assignments. He supported them in the face of criticism. He gave one leave to get married during a national crisis when no leave was allowed. He was unorthadox and a little eccentric. Instead of buying chicken legs at the supermarket nicely presented in a plastic package, this farm boy bought a live chicken one weekend. His horrified city slicker children were shown just how the yummy legs got in that package. He raised three children on his beliefs. Give your best. Obey the law. Be honest. Be respectful. Be kind. On May 29, 1974, a heart attack ended his life at age fifty-five. He never got to see his children marry nor meet his grandchildren. But he is not forgotten. He is not unloved. His soul and his values live on quietly, inspiring his descendants. With deep affection, Larry Forest's three children, David, Guy and Lynne (Duquesne). Published in the Montreal Gazette on 5/29/2009