OPP establish slain Const. Grzegorz Pierzchala, suspects in custody

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Ontario Information Crime

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Police have recognized the officer shot and killed close to Hagersville on Tuesday as 28-year-old OPP Const. Grzegorz (Greg) Pierzchala.

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Police have taken two suspects into custody after the younger officer was killed when he responded to a name for a automobile in a ditch on the intersection of Indian Line and Concession 14, west of Hagersville. Sources stated police later had been on the lookout for suspects in a stolen pickup truck.

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“It’s with a particularly heavy coronary heart that I regretfully advise that #OPP Provincial Constable Grzegorz Pierzchala was killed in the present day whereas courageously serving within the line of obligation,” tweeted OPP Commissioner Thomas Carrique. “Our hearts are together with his family members and all OPP members at this tragic time.”

In a later information convention, the commish stated of Pierzchala: “This can be a man who, at 5 years outdated, determined he needed to be a police officer and he had a quick alternative to stay out his dream and to do his greatest to maintain our group secure.

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“And sadly he paid the final word sacrifice in the present day,” Carrique stated, including that Pierzchala was a member of the Canadian Armed Forces.

The OPP had stated officers had been on the lookout for Randall McKenzie, 25, described as Indigenous, 6-foot-2 and weighing154 kilos. Police additionally launched the picture of a feminine suspect, however didn’t present additional particulars about her identification.

West Haldimand OPP has taken the lead on the investigation into the taking pictures of the officer, who had one 12 months on the job and solely on Tuesday had handed his 10-month probation interval and was in a position to patrol solo.

Based on sources, one witness, who described as much as 5 pictures fired, stated the driving force had tattoos on his higher physique.

Sources instructed the Toronto Solar that Pierzchala was shot within the chest and leg.

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Police, in the meantime, had issued a shelter in place warning as officers carried out their seek for the alleged killer. The OPP additionally provided a reward within the case.

“He was an exquisite officer, an outstanding officer, and (had) simply the most important coronary heart of gold you could possibly ever think about,” Const. Ed Sanchuk stated of Pierzchala in a telephone interview with CP.

Shawn Geris, a Toronto Police officer who was Pierzchala’s wrestling coach at York College ten years in the past, remembered the younger student-athlete asking in regards to the job and what it was like.

The 2 saved in contact with Pierzchala enthusiastically agreeing a few years in the past to go to and assist out with a wrestling membership Geris runs for youths.

“He jumped at it. He stated, ‘Yeah, positive coach!’ He nonetheless referred to as me coach,” Geris stated.

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Geris was completely happy to be a reference for Pierzchala when he turned a particular constable at Queen’s Park. Pierzchala later despatched Geris a message letting him know he was going to use for the OPP.

Geris had even hoped to have the ability to current him together with his badge when he graduated from Ontario Police School, however COVID-19 restrictions prevented it.

“He wasn’t one to surrender, both. He was tenacious in every part that he did.”

He stated he obtained the information of Pierzchala’s dying through a textual content whereas buying and referred to as it “devastating.”

“This was his dream job. This was what he needed. And he knew the hazards of the job as a result of I’d talked about that earlier than with him,” Geris stated.

“Folks as a police officer need to assist and make the world a greater place. Some individuals simply don’t need that to occur.”

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Tuesday’s deadly taking pictures was the most recent in a 12 months which has seen a number of officers lose their lives.

Toronto Police misplaced one among their very own when Const. Andrew Hong, 48, was ambushed on Sept. 12.

He was executed at a Tim Hortons in Mississauga whereas offering coaching to different officers. The shooter — Sean Petrie, 40 — left two others lifeless and two wounded in his rampage earlier than being shot lifeless by cops in Hamilton.

Two South Simcoe Law enforcement officials — Const. Morgan Russell, 54, and Const. Devon Northrup, 33 — had been shot and killed on Sept. 12 whereas responding to a home disturbance in Innisfil. Northrup was a six-year veteran assigned to the Neighborhood Mobilization and Engagement Unit. Morgan served for 33 years and was assigned to uniform patrol.

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RCMP Const. Shaelyn Yang, a 31-year-old psychological well being and homeless outreach officer, was stabbed to dying in mid-October when she and a Metropolis of Burnaby worker tried to problem an eviction discover to a person who had been dwelling in a tent at a neighborhood park.

An off-duty York Regional Police officer — Const. Travis Gillespie — was killed Sept. 14 in a head-on crash  in Markham. The lethal two-vehicle collision involving a white Honda Accord — pushed by Gillespie — and a Porsche Cayenne occurred on Main Mackenzie Dr. E., west of Warden Ave., round 6 a.m.

— With information from the Canadian Press

jwarmington@postmedia.com

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