By Canadian Press

A look at recent deaths of police officers in Canada

Oct 4, 2023 | 1:19 PM

A regimental funeral for RCMP Const. Rick O’Brien is being held in Langley, B.C. on Wednesday. 

O’Brien, a father of six children who was a member of the Ridge Meadows RCMP detachment in Metro Vancouver, was executing a search warrant in Coquitlam, B.C., on Sept. 22 when he was shot dead, while two other officers and the suspect were injured. 

A 25-year-old man is accused of one count each of first-degree murder and attempted murder. 

O’Brien and at least nine other police officers have been killed in Canada since September last year. Here’s a look at their cases and who they were: 

_

vehicle damage

Over 40 vehicles damaged during late-night Nanaimo vandalism spree

4h ago

rising costs

RDN taxpayers want relief as board grapples with budget

8h ago

new mayor

Spring Mayoral by-election called in Ladysmith

21h ago

Sgt. Eric Mueller, 42

The Ontario Provincial Police officer was killed while responding to a call about a disturbance in Bourget, Ont. Two other officers were hurt. 

Ontario’s police watchdog said Mueller died in hospital after he and two other OPP officers were “ambushed” and shot. 

A 39-year-old Bourget resident is accused of one count of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder. 

_

Sgt. Maureen Breau, 42

The veteran Quebec provincial police officer was stabbed to death on March 27 after she tried to arrest a suspect in Louiseville, Que. Breau, who had two children, had more than 20 years of experience and was four days away from starting a new job as an investigator. 

The 35-year-old alleged assailant was shot and killed by other officers who arrived on the scene.

 _

Const. Travis Jordan, 35, and Const. Brett Ryan, 30

The Edmonton police officers were shot when they responded to a call about a family dispute at an apartment on March 16.

A 16-year-old boy fired multiple shots at the officers as they approached the suite, and the officers didn’t have a chance to fire back. The teen then shot and wounded his mother during a struggle for the gun, then shot and killed himself, police said.

Ryan, a former paramedic, had been with the Edmonton force for 5 1/2 years and was about to become a father.

Jordan moved to Edmonton from Nova Scotia so he could realize his childhood dream of becoming an officer, and had been with the service for almost nine years.

_ 

Const. Grzegorz Pierzchala, 28

Ontario Provincial Police have said Pierzchala was responding to a call for a vehicle in a ditch west of Hagersville, Ont., on Dec. 27, 2022, and was fatally shot in an ambush when he arrived. 

Pierzchala had been with the force for about a year and had been notified that he had passed his 10-month probation period hours before he died.

Two people have been charged with first-degree murder in his death.

 _ 

Const. Shaelyn Yang, 31

Yang was fatally stabbed in Burnaby, B.C., on Oct. 18, 2022, while trying to issue an eviction notice to a man who had been living in a tent at a local park.

During an altercation that led to her death, the mental health and homeless outreach officer for the RCMP shot the man, who survived.

Mounties in B.C. have described Yang as a kind, caring person who wanted to help people living with mental health issues and experiencing homelessness.

The suspect has been charged with first-degree murder. 

_

Const. Devon Northrup, 33, and Const. Morgan Russell, 54

The South Simcoe Police Service constables were killed on Oct. 11, after they responded to a disturbance call at an Innisfil, Ont., home.

The Special Investigations Unit, the province’s police watchdog, has said neither officer drew their guns before they were shot. The agency has said a 22-year-old man at the home shot the two officers and also died in the shooting.

Northup was remembered by his colleagues as a funny, kind and dedicated officer who served as a member of the mental health crisis outreach team.

Colleagues said Russell passed over promotions and delayed his retirement to keep working in a community he served for 33 years.

_ 

Const. Andrew Hong, 48

Police have said Hong was shot in an ambush on Sept. 12, 2022, at a Mississauga, Ont., Tim Hortons while he was getting coffee for his Toronto Police Service colleagues on a lunch break.

Many people who spoke at his funeral said the fact that the father of two was on a coffee run was indicative of his generosity. 

Investigators have said the man who killed Hong later shot three people at an auto body shop — killing two and injuring one — before being killed by police.

_

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 4, 2023.

The Canadian Press