Cops pay with their lives as lawlessness, disregard for authority fester
Cops pay with their lives as lawlessness, disregard for authority fester
Author of the article:
Chris Doucette
Publishing date:
Oct 19, 2022 • 4 days ago • 3 minute read • 66 Comments
Pallbearers carry the casket of Const. Andrew Hong at the end of his funeral at the Toronto Congress Centre on Wednesday September 21, 2022. On September 12, 2022, 48-year-old Const. Andrew Hong died in the line of duty. PHOTO BY ERNEST DOROSZUK /Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network
The number of cops killed or narrowly escaping death in recent weeks make it clear Canada is heading down a perilous path.
And the Toronto Police association says “enough is enough.”
“For too long vocalized interest groups that do not represent the majority of our communities have dominated the conversation as they seek to villainize our police officers,” TPA President Jon Reid said Wednesday, less than 24 hours after cops came under fire in Scarborough.
“We must start to ask ourselves if the persistent attack over the last several years has contributed to the lack of respect and overt attempts on their lives because enough is enough,” he added emphatically.
Toronto Police Association president Jon Reid speaks to media after the funeral for Const. Andrew Hong on Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022. PHOTO BY JOE WARMINGTON /Toronto Sun
In the last five weeks, four cops have been either shot or stabbed to death while on-duty. Such lawlessness and lack of respect for authority may be common in the U.S., but so much violence against police in such a short time span is unprecedented in Canada.
In the most shocking incident, Toronto Police Const. Andrew Hong, 48, was executed at a Tim Hortons in Mississauga on Sept. 12. The shooter — Sean Petrie, 40 — left two others dead and two wounded in his rampage before being shot dead by cops in Hamilton.
On Sept. 22, Peel Regional Police officers came dangerously close to being run over while trying to stop a driver in Brampton. Yudhbir Randhawa, 31, of Quebec, was charged with impaired operation, flight from a peace officer, failure to comply with a release order and various drug offences. Two passengers — Harpreet Saggu, 41, of Brampton, and Jashanpreet Singh, 23, of Quebec — also were arrested on drug charges.
On Oct. 4, a fleeing motorist in a white car with Quebec plates deliberately ran down a Toronto Police officer as cops attempted to make an arrest in a Scarborough. The officer was rushed to hospital but was not seriously injured.
On Oct. 11, South Simcoe Police Consts. Morgan Russell, 54, and Devon Northrup, 33, were shot to death while responding to a domestic disturbance inside a home in Innisfil, Ont. Gunman Chris Doncaster, 23, was fatally shot.
On Tuesday morning, RCMP Const. Shaelyn Yang, 31, a mental health and homeless outreach officer, was stabbed to death at a homeless camp site in Burnaby, B.C. The suspect, identified as Jongwon Ham, was shot during the incident. Ham has been charged with first-degree murder.
Formal RCMP portrait of Const. Shaelyn (Tzu-Hsin) Yang, who was killed in the line of duty in Burnaby on Oct.18, 2022. PHOTO BY RCMP /submitted
On Tuesday night, Toronto cops were trying to arrest a wanted man in Scarborough for a shooting in March when he allegedly pulled out a gun, opened fire and took off into a house. The gunman allegedly fired another barrage of shots at officers from inside the house.
Fortunately, only a police vehicle and neighbouring house were hit.
A Toronto Police officer protects the crime scene on Shenley Rd. where a wanted 35-year-old Scarborough man fired close to 20 bullets at undercover officers at a Shenley Rd. home north of Eglinton Ave. E. and Kennedy Rd. around 8:30 p.m. Tuesday night. The officer looks at 11 shots that struck a neighbouring home. The man was taken into custody after a two and a half hour standoff. PHOTO BY JACK BOLAND /Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network
Thomas James McMahon, 35, faces three counts of attempt murder and an assortment of gun charges.
“This level of violence and complete disregard for the lives of police officers cannot be tolerated,” the TPA boss said. “Our members do not deserve this and yet they continue to put their uniforms on every single day and report for work.”
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Reid vowed the TPA will continue to “raise public awareness, attend bail hearings for those accused of attacking our members, and speak out about the need for meaningful reform to bail legislation.”
Toronto Police Chief James Ramer said the recent incidents of officers making “the ultimate sacrifice” have “a profound impact” on everyone in the policing community.
“The shooting-related incidents, including the shooting murders of three police officers in a matter of weeks here in Ontario, are a reflection of the proliferation of illegal guns on our streets,” he said. “Importantly, they serve as painful reminders that those entrusted with community safety – including government – must continue to invest in efforts to target those who choose to possess, traffic, and use illegal guns in our communities.”
cdoucette@postmedia.com
On Twitter: @sundoucette