The dark demons of policing

Officer down: The dark demons of policing
By MARK BONOKOSKI, Toronto Sun

Last Updated: April 11, 2010 1:00am


BRACEBRIDGE — From the outside looking in, Bruce Kruger would appear to have an idyllic life.

Retired from the OPP within the top 4% of its hierarchy, his final rank after almost four decades being a detective inspector, he lives in a perfect-setting, bed-and-breakfast home on the banks of the Muskoka River, and owns a successful Swiss Chalet-Harvey’s franchise in the heart of town as well as in Huntsville.

He has been married 40 years to wife, Lynda, has four children, one a cop, and 13 grandchildren.

He has both the Canada Medal of Bravery and the Ontario Medal of Bravery, as well as a number of valour certificates and commendations, and with nary a recorded blemish on his career.

He’s Bracebridge’s Town Crier, and award-winning one at that, and has served on more municipal boards, organizing committees, and charitable groups than one can imagine.

Back in December, he was an official Olympic torchbearer, one of his last public functions before going to ground.

Bruce Kruger, as it turns out, had a dark secret.

And now he wants it out.

A few days ago, Bruce Kruger returned from an eight-week, in-house stay at the Homewood Health Clinic in Guelph where, partially at his own expense, he finally dealt with the post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that plagued him most of his life as a cop, and throughout the entire 10 years he has been in retirement.
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The dark demons of policing