A plaque presentation for Const. Jeffrey Northrup is scheduled for six p.m. Thursday on the Ontario Police Memorial at Queen’s Park
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It doesn’t matter what authorized magic occurs in a courtroom, Const. Jeff Northrup is not going to be granted freedom from his everlasting demise.
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However his alleged killer has gotten bail.
Actually the choose didn’t understand what was deliberate for the following day — a plaque presentation organized in reminiscence of the slain 52 Division officer Northrup. Already arrange, no one concerned ever dreamed that Northrup’s alleged assassin might be able of freedom to maybe drive by as an alternative of being locked up in a jail cell awaiting due course of.
For sure, an already sombre affair scheduled for six p.m. Thursday on the Ontario Police Memorial at Queen’s Park has taken on an entire new that means.
“It’s outrageous,” stated Toronto Police Affiliation president Jon Reid. “Nobody can consider it.”
From Premier Doug Ford to Mayor John Tory to Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown, there was bewilderment on the discharge of Umar Zameer, who’s charged with first-degree homicide within the July 2 incident that noticed much-loved 55-year-old Northrup hit by a automobile within the underground parking storage at Toronto Metropolis Corridor.
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The 30-year-old has been let loose on bail whereas he awaits trial. Though he’s ordered to be below home arrest and to put on an digital ankle bracelet, with situations that enable him to work or attend his lawyer’s workplace or medical appointments, it’s conceivable he might be within the neighborhood of Queen’s Park the place cops are gathering in preparation for this yr’s Nationwide Peace Officers’ Memorial Run.
“The ‘Run to Keep in mind’ is a 460-km relay that makes its means by way of many communities between the beginning on the Ontario Police Memorial website in Toronto to the tip on the Nationwide Memorial on Parliament Hill in Ottawa,” Peel Regional Police Det. Robert Hackenbrook tells me.
For the fifth yr, Don Cherry is the run’s honorary chair. “I’m proud to help the run and all cops,” stated Cherry. “They’re the individuals who hold our society secure and I like them.”
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Sarcastically, Robert and I had been speaking about easy methods to inform this story in a means that might break by way of the entire smoke and fireplace emanating from the federal election and the pandemic when a choose made this uncommon name, which presents a reminder of Canada’s flawed bail system. Nobody is denying the accused’s day in courtroom. However with a first-degree homicide cost, many are questioning what precedent this might set.
Regardless, the Run to Keep in mind will proceed.
“The first goal of the Nationwide Peace Officers’ Memorial ‘Run to Keep in mind’ is to lift consciousness and focus consideration on the annual Police and Peace Officers’ Memorial Service,” stated Hackenbrook. “The annual service is held on the final Sunday of September in Ottawa, with the run occurring over a three-day interval instantly previous it.”
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It began with the Peel Police Pacer’s run in 2005.
“Not solely does the run elevate consciousness concerning the Memorial Service, it additionally offers peace officers and residents alongside the route the chance to take part,” stated Hackenbrook. “For the runners that take part within the three-day relay, it’s their means of fulfilling that pledge, that promise, that they won’t overlook those that have made the final word sacrifice in service of their group, their province, and their nation.
“The lengthy and typically gruelling hours of operating enable the members to replicate on the sacrifices of these courageous officers whose names are etched on the Memorial Wall in Ottawa.”
And help the households of the slain. This yr’s run is in reminiscence of Calgary Police Sgt. Andrew Harnett, RCMP Consts. Shelby Patton, Heidi Stevenson and Allan Poapst,OPP Const. Marc Hovingh, and Toronto’s Northrup.
The general public is welcome to attend.
Maybe an on-bail alleged cop killer shall be within the space too.
