On June 21, 2010, at 12:35 a.m., Constable Chelsey Robinson, aged 25, of the RCMP Stony Plain Detachment was responding to reports of an impaired driver going against the flow of traffic on Highway 16. While looking for the impaired driver her marked RCMP patrol car collided with a semi-tractor trailer at Highway 16 and Range Road 15, near Stony Plain.

Cst. Robinson was seriously injured in the collision and taken to hospital in Edmonton where she later died. The single occupant of the semi-truck sustained non-life threatening injuries and was taken to hospital.

Constable Robinson had been on the job for seven months. Stony Plain was her first post with the RCMP, though she spent a year-and-a-half with the forensic identification unit before joining the regular force.

Our condolences go out to her family, friends, and colleagues.

[ return to top ]

On March 8, 2010, 37 year old Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Constable Vu Pham of the Huron County Detachment was shot and killed Monday when pulling over a vehicle in rural south western Ontario, an incident witnesses said set off a close-range gunfight between the suspect and officers.

Const. Vu Pham, 37, was shot and "immediately incapacitated" after taking the "initiative to intercept" the suspect shortly after 10 a.m., Ontario Provincial Police Commissioner Julian Fantino said. "It is with a sense of loss and deep regret that I'm informing... that we lost officer Pham. He succumbed to his injuries a short while ago at hospital,". Expressing the profound grief of the thousands of OPP members, Commissioner Julian Fantino said, “I am deeply saddened by the loss of this young, brave officer who was committed to protecting the citizens of Ontario. Pham was responding to an occurrence and doing what our people do every day in the line of duty. They take the initiative to respond to situations as they arise; he was just doing his job. Absolutely, it’s that pure. He was doing his job.”

"Officers in close proximity to the scene located the suspect. The suspect was also shot in the incident," Fantino said. The suspect, who was in hospital, is believed to be in his 70s and has been charged with 1st degree murder and attempt murder.

A 15-year veteran of the force, Pham was a married father of three. His wife, Heather, and their sons Tyler, 12, Jordan, 10, and Joshua, 7, were with him when he died. Our condolences go out to the family, colleagues, and friends.

[ return to top ]

A 2 year veteran of the Peel Police Department, Constable Artem “James” Otchakovski was patrolling the streets of Brampton late Monday night when he received a call just after 11 p.m. to assist another officer.

Moments later, the 36-year-old officer from Barrie was involved in a deadly car crash.

Otchakovski clung to life for nearly 24 hours, but was pronounced dead at Toronto’s Sunnybrook hospital on Tuesday about 9 p.m. His devastated wife, Erin, and several colleagues were at his side.

No details have been released of what caused the horrific two-car crash and whether speed played a role. The force’s major collision bureau is continuing its investigation, which may take weeks.

Otchakovski was driving a marked cruiser when his vehicle and another collided at the intersection of Airport Rd. and Steeles Ave. E.

The cruiser wound up wrapped around a light pole. The impact left the car in such a condition that investigators have had trouble retrieving a computer module that could help them tell how fast it was going before the crash.

Our condolences go out to James’ wife, Erin, and their 3-year-old son, Owen.

[ return to top ]

Early in the morning of January 16 Superintendent Douglas Coates' body was located by rescue crews searching through the rubble of the UN Headquarters building in Port au Prince Haiti which was destroyed during the recent earthquake (January 12th 2010) there. Identification was confirmed this afternoon.

At the time of his tragic death, Doug was doing what he did so well - leading an international peacekeeping operation. He was the Acting Commissioner of Operations for the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti.

Doug was one of 82 Canadian police officers serving in Haiti at the time of the earthquake. These men and women chose to leave the safety and security of Canada to serve the needs of less fortunate in this very challenged part of the world.

In their effort to better the lives of others, Superintendent Doug Coates and his colleague Sergeant Mark Gallagher willingly made sacrifices and ultimately gave their lives for this noble cause. Doug and Mark are true heroes. They will be deeply missed by all who knew them.

Our condolences go out to Superintendent Doug Coates' wife Lise, their children Julie, Mathieu and Luc, their family and friends.

[ return to top ]

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of RCMP Sergeant Mark Gallagher, he was 50 years old.

Sgt. Gallagher died on January 14, 2010 while serving on a United Nations peacekeeping mission in Haiti. After countless hours of searching, Sergeant Gallagher’s body was found in the collapsed building he was housed in after rescue efforts were able to clear away the rubble and debris caused by a strong earthquake that struck close to Port-au-Prince, Haiti on January 12, 2010.

On July 7, 2009 Mark deployed to Haiti, from his position as RCMP Media Relations Officer for the province of Nova Scotia, on a nine-month United Nations Peacekeeping mission. His duties in Haiti included working on Project Coordination. Sgt. Gallagher was passionate about assisting those in need and always found opportunities to serve his community. His love of the French language was a perfect fit for his deployment to work with the people of Haiti.

Our condolences go out to Mark’s family, friends and colleagues.

[ return to top ]