Another Canadian cop has been killed.
That’s 40 in the past two decades; 11 in the past 30 months, and eight in the last nine months.
It’s become an epidemic, with the contagion — utter disrespect for the law, dysfunctional families, uber-violent video games (an old argument), too many guns, whatever — coming together during obviously troubled times.
During most years, one or two police officers are murdered in the line of duty. That’s bad enough.
But eight in the last nine months? That’s insane.
The latest name to add to the tragically growing memorial wall is OPP Sgt. Eric Mueller from the Russell County OPP Detachment, 40 kilometres east of Ottawa and home of the small largely franco-Ontarian town of Bourget (Pop. 2,000), where a gunshot was heard early Thursday morning on Laval St.
Two of Mueller’s fellow officers were wounded but expected to live. One, in fact, has already been released, Mueller, however, never make it to the trauma unit in Ottawa. He was dead when the ambulance arrived.
As for the suspected triggerman, he is apparently in custody. Cops say the situation is contained. No need for the public to fret. The situation, as they say, is contained.
By mid-afternoon, his name had still not been released.
But there will inevitably be a next time. After all, if nine months can take eight police officers’ lives, nine has to be waiting down some dark and unexplainable rabbit hole.
“When three officers arrive on scene and within minutes are shot, one is killed, another is very seriously and critically injured, and another injured to the point of requiring medical attention for simply arriving on scene,” said OPP Commissioner Thomas Carrique.
“I categorize that as an ambush.”
As for Mueller, Carrique used his press conference to spread positives about his fallen sergeant.
“He is described by his colleagues as a coach and mentor,” said Carrique. “Somebody that everybody looked up to. The glue that held his shift together.”
It is at times like this that there are calls to re-establish the death penalty for those who murder police officers and prison guards.
Years ago, when I worked at the Windsor Star, I had a retired local police sergeant tell me how his life was spared because the felon who had him cornered didn’t wish to hang.
The last execution in Canada was the double hanging — back to back — of Arthur Lucas and Ronald Turpin on December 11, 1962, at Toronto’s Don Jail, both for murder.
Lucas, a Detroit pimp, killed a police informant and Turpin shot and killed Toronto Const. Frederick Nash, 31, who had pulled him over while he was escaping a robbery.
Years later, I interviewed the man who hanged them.
In July 1976, capital punishment was abolished in Canada, and an attempt to have it restored was defeated in the House of Commons 11 years later in June 1987 by a vote of 148–127.
Both Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Ontario Premier Doug Ford tweeted condolences to Mueller’s family and friends. There is nothing new in that, considering the numbers.
“Awful news coming from Bourget, Ontario this morning,” tweeted Trudeau. “I’m sending my deepest condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of @OPP News Sergeant Eric Mueller, who was killed in the line of duty, and I’m keeping the two injured officers in my thoughts.”
Ford was more expressive.
“The death of OPP Sgt. Eric Mueller, who was senselessly killed in the line of duty, is devastating news,” tweeted Ford. “My thoughts are with his family and friends. Please join me in praying for his fellow officers as we await word on their condition. May God bless our heroes in uniform.”
Such tweets have now become obligatory.
