Two Mounties Shot In Sask. Have Died In Hospital

The officers – 29-year-old Const. Robin Cameron and 26-year-old Const. Marc Bourdages – were shot July 7th while chasing a suspect near Mildred, Sask.

On Sunday RCMP officials confirmed the Mounties died in hospital overnight. Assistant Commissioner Darrell McFadyen said Cameron passed away around 11pm and Bourdages died just hours later.

“Both succumbed to severe head injuries. Despite all of the excellent care that was provided to them, they were unable to recover,” he said.

Both officers will receive regimental funerals.

Bourdages’ wife Natasha, also an officer at the Spiritwood RCMP detachment, said her husband is now in a better place.

“I believe that Mark is with us now in spirit and that he is in a better place where he can be peaceful,” she said Sunday.

The residents of Spiritwood were saddened by the news of the officers’ deaths Sunday.

“I’m shocked and I feel really sad about it,” said Mag Szabo, who runs a local restaurant. She’d gotten to know Cameron, who came into the eatery for lunch and to pick up meals for prisoners.

“Poor things, and it’s just so sad for their families. It’s just really, really sad.”

Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who’s currently in Russia for the G8 meeting, issued a statement Sunday offering his condolences.

“Today, on behalf of all Canadians, I wish to pay tribute to both Marc Bourdages and Robin Cameron. They have made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of their fellow Canadians,” he said.

“Constable Bourdages and Constable Cameron have been members of our national force for five-and-a-half and five years respectively. Throughout their careers, both officers brought a level of professionalism, commitment and courage that was admired and respected by their colleagues, friends and the lives of other Canadians they touched.

“ I express my sincere condolences to the families, friends and fellow colleagues of these brave officers who have been touched by this terrible tragedy. This is truly a sad day for all Canadians.”

Despite a massive search effort, authorities have found no trace of the suspect wanted in connection to the shooting, 41-year-old Curtis Dagenais, who’s thought to be still at large. (See picture below)

The two officers were critically wounded during a police pursuit. Three Mounties had been called out to investigate an apparent domestic dispute at the home of the alleged gunman’s mother and when they arrived the suspect sped off down a dirt road in a pickup truck, according to authorities.

The officers gave chase in two vehicles – Cameron and Bourdages in one and the third officer in another – and when the suspect vehicle stopped, authorities allege Dagenais shot Cameron and Bourdages. The third officer, who wasn’t hurt, reported that her colleagues had been hit and returned fire. The suspect then fled on foot.

The two wounded officers were taken to a Saskatoon hospital where they succumbed to their wounds a week later.

Cameron leaves behind her 11-year-old daughter while Bourdages leaves behind his wife and their nine-month-old son.

Here’s a list of some of the Canadian police officers known to have died on the job since 2000:

July 15-16, 2006: RCMP constables Robin Cameron and Marc Bourdages die in hospital overnight about two hours apart. Both had suffered severe head injuries after being shot July 7 while chasing a suspect following a domestic dispute in Spiritwood, Sask.

Dec. 14, 2005: Const. Valerie Gignac, 25, of municipal police in Laval, Que., killed by gunfire from a man who barricaded himself in an apartment.

July 20, 2005: Ontario Provincial Police Const. Andrew Potts, 29, killed when his patrol cruiser hit a moose as he rushed to a domestic dispute call near Bracebridge.

July 4, 2005: RCMP Const. Jose Agostinho, 45, when his cruiser was rammed by a transport truck south of Edmonton.

June 3, 2005: RCMP Const. Joseph Minguy, 46, drowned when he fell overboard while patrolling alone on a police boat on Okanagan Lake near Vernon, B.C.

March 3, 2005: RCMP Consts. Brock Myrol, 29, Peter Christopher Schiemann, 25, Anthony Gordon, 28, Leo Nicholas Johnston, 32, after they were ambushed and gunned down in a raid on a farm near Mayerthorpe, Alta., 130 kilometres northwest of Edmonton.

Nov. 13, 2004: Auxiliary RCMP officer Glen Evely, 39, of Vernon, B.C., when a stolen truck ran a red light and struck his cruiser.

May 23, 2004: Ontario Provincial Police Const. Tyler Boutilier, 32, of the Grenville detachment, killed when his cruiser was struck by an oncoming vehicle in his lane as he answered an emergency call at a campground.

May 15, 2004: Const. Chris Garrett, 39, of the force in Cobourg, Ont., slashed in the neck with a hunting knife after responding to a 911 call about a robbery in the parking lot of an abandoned hospital.

Feb. 28, 2004: Cpl. Jim Galloway, 53, an RCMP dog handler stationed in Sherwood Park, Alta., killed during a gunfight after an armed standoff in which the suspect also died.

Sept. 20, 2003: Ontario Provincial Police Const. John Flagg, 55, killed when his motorcycle collided with a pickup truck during a high-speed pursuit near Almonte, Ont.

May 27, 2003: Const. Philip Shrive, 49, of the provincial police detachment in Renfrew, died in hospital a week after after his cruiser was struck by an oncoming truck.

Dec. 18, 2002: RCMP Supt. Dennis Massey, 53, killed in Calgary when a propane tanker truck’s trailer toppled over and landed on his car.

Sept. 15, 2002: Richmond, B.C., RCMP Const. Jimmy Ng died when his police cruiser was broadsided, sending him flying through the rear window.

March 12, 2002: Banff RCMP Const. Christine Diotte, 35, killed when a sport utility vehicle slid on an icy patch of road and crashed into her while investigating another accident.

Feb. 28, 2002: Montreal Const. Benoit L’Ecuyer, 29, shot and killed during a chase with a speeding car.

Feb. 18, 2002: Toronto Const. Laura Ellis, 31, killed when the police cruiser she was a passenger in collided with another car and then struck a utility pole while responding to an emergency call.

Dec. 23, 2001: Const. Martin Lefebvre, 22, of Shawinigan, Que., died after losing control of his patrol vehicle while answering an emergency call.

Dec. 20, 2001: RCMP Const. Dennis Strongquill, 52, shot after pursuing a stolen car in Russell, Man.

Oct. 17, 2001: Calgary Const. Darren Beatty, 29, a member of the department’s elite tactical unit, died after he was shot by a colleague in a hostage-taking simulation during a training exercise.

March 5, 2001: RCMP Const. Jurgen Seewald, shot and killed while responding to a domestic dispute in Cape Dorset, Nunavut.

Aug. 28, 2000: Const. Alain Forget, killed when thieves rammed a police car at a roadblock in St-Hubert, Que.

Aug. 16, 2000: RCMP Sgt. Ed Mobley and pilot Tim Nicholson died when their plane crashed in northern British Columbia during a training exercise.

June 9, 2000: Ontario Provincial Police Sgt. Marg Eve, died two days after a truck hit three police cars and another vehicle stopped on the side of Highway 401 near London, Ont.