The Sarnia Police Service is offering its condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Cst. Andrew Hong.
The 48-year-old Toronto police officer was killed on the job Monday in Mississauga.
The 22 year police veteran was shot while having lunch at a Tim Hortons at around 2:15 p.m., in what officials are calling an unprovoked attack that killed two people and injured three others.
Sarnia Police Chief Derek Davis said the tragedy is being felt by officers right across the country.
Sarnia Police Chief Derek Davis, photo courtesy of the Sarnia Police Service.
"The policing community is a very tight knit community," said Davis. "We know each other, we take courses together, a lot of careers crossover, it's a small community and, you can't help but imagine this could happen here. It's a wonderful career and it's also a dangerous career. I'm thankful for all of our frontline officers and investigators that are out there everyday. There's always a level of risk inherent in policing and this is a terrible circumstance."
Chief Davis said members of the Sarnia Police Service will attend Cst. Hong's funeral, once arrangements are finalized.
"I can't help but think immediately of the officer's family and friends and how this must be impacting them," he said. "I can only imagine what it's like for the colleagues and the co-workers of the officer."
Monday's shooting rampage in the Peel and Halton regions ended at around 4:30 p.m. in Hamilton, with police shooting and killing the suspect at a cemetery.
Davis, who came to Sarnia from Halton Region, said the incident hit close to home.
"My last posting was in the city of Burlington so I'm very familiar and recognize every spot on the TV news."
Ontario's Special Investigation Unit (SIU) is investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting death of a man in Hamilton.
The Sarnia Police Service offers its deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Toronto Police Constable Andrew Hong who was killed in the line of duty . Our thoughts are also with the other innocent victims of this senseless act. #HeroesInLife https://t.co/DVbufFVTXP
— Sarnia Police (@SarniaPolice) September 13, 2022
