Police warn of recent rise in line-of-duty deaths
Canada police deaths rise as three officers are killed in separate June incidents See the report on rising on-duty violence and its impact on officers, families
Police and law enforcement leaders in Canada say several recent onduty deaths are a troubling sign, after three officers were killed in separate incidents earlier this month.
The latest death was Montreal police officer Mohamed Lamine Benredouane, who was shot while responding to reports of an armed suspect in CôtedesNeiges on Monday. Earlier in June, Toronto police Const. Marc Pinizzotto was fatally shot during a search at an apartment building, and OPP Const. Tarun Bali was killed in Hearst, Ont., while trying to stop a vehicle.
A University of Ottawa criminology report cited in the article says those deaths have pushed this year’s total above the longterm average for intentional onduty police deaths, though researchers caution that one cluster does not necessarily mean a lasting trend. Police leaders say the impact is felt far beyond the numbers, with families, coworkers and communities all affected by the violence.