Members of the Ontario Provincial Police participated in a procession on Thursday for an officer who tragically lost his life in a motorcycle accident on Highway 401 earlier this week.
Sgt. Brandon Malcolm, 33, who served with the OPP’s Northumberland detachment, died in a single-vehicle crash on the highway in Cobourg, Ont., heading east near Burnham Street N. He was on duty at that time.
“Sergeant Malcolm was highly respected and trusted as a leader who fostered a supportive environment. His quiet confidence, professionalism and strong work ethic made him an integral part of the OPP,” the police force said in a news release on Wednesday.
Malcolm began his career with the OPP as a provincial constable within the Northumberland Detachment in June 2020. He was also part of the OPP Golden Helmets, which is a precision motorcycle team representing the service at public events and official occasions.
The OPP stated that both the Office of the Chief Coroner and the Ontario Forensic Pathology Service are looking into the fatal accident.
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As the procession passed through Toronto, residents, police officers and first responders gathered on Highway 401 overpasses to pay their respects. (Michael Cole/CBC)
The procession departed from Toronto’s Centre of Forensic Sciences heading east along Highway 401 toward Oshawa. Many police officers, first responders, and local residents gathered on overpasses to honor their fallen colleague.
Toronto police Sgt. Paul Regan stood alongside about 20 other officers from both Toronto police and OPP on Don Mills overpass to salute those passing by.
“I think it is important that we’re all one family, and that when one is down or is hurt, we’re there to support not only the family but our brothers and sisters that are on the job throughout Canada,” Regan said.
“Everybody goes to work with the idea that they want to come home the same way they came to work. We’re always conscious of what’s going on out there. When somebody gets hurt or injured, or in this case has died, it affects every member differently but it affects us all.”
Carmela Di Rito, a local resident, expressed her desire to show support too.
“I thought it was important to come out today to honour the fallen OPP officer,” Di Rito said.
“We often forget how dangerous their job is and I felt the need to support him, the whole organization and his family.”
Ontario residents wishing to express their condolences can sign an online book of condolences.
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‘We stand in sorrow,’ Toronto police chief says
Toronto police Chief Myron Demkiw addressed this tragic event at an unrelated news conference held in Toronto on Thursday. “These are always difficult moments in policing and we stand in sorrow and offer our condolences with our colleagues at the Ontario Provincial Police and indeed across the policing family,” Demkiw said. “In these moments, everyone who wears a uniform and who serves is impacted, saddened and reminded of the dangers our members face each and every day.”Secondary crash still under investigation
The OPP mentioned there was another crash on Monday involving other officers traveling westbound on Highway 401. These officers were responding to Sergeant Malcolm’s incident when they collided with another vehicle driven by someone who had stopped to help him. Three OPP officers were taken to hospital as a precaution but have since been released according to reports from police. The investigation into this secondary crash is ongoing. Before joining OPP , Malcolm served as an auxiliary member with Toronto Police Service as well as working as a combat engineer within Canadian Armed Forces. Funeral arrangements for Sergeant Malcolm are still being organized.Source link
