As the Ontario Provincial Police force reels from the death of one of its own, officers in Peel Region paid their final respects to a colleague killed on duty last week.
Const. Artem (James) Ochakovsky died in hospital a week ago after he received a critical head injury in a crash in Brampton. The 36-year-old was on his way to assist a colleague in a non-emergency situation when he became involved in a collision at Airport Road and Steeles Avenue around 11pm last Monday. His cruiser ended up wrapped around a hydro pole.
Ochakovsky leaves behind his wife Erin and three-year-old son Owen.
Peel Regional Police Chief Mike Metcalf described Ochakovsky – a two-year veteran of the force - as the “ideal recruit”. He became a Peel officer after a career as a chef and in security.
A full police funeral service for the constable was held at Mississauga’s Hershey Centre. Officers from across the country attended, as did local firefighters, paramedics and other emergency workers.
"Something like this can happen to
any one of us on a given day so it's a sombre reminder," said Peel Sgt. Nigel
Gonsalves.
Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty also attended the service.
With files from the Canadian Press