‘He died as a hero’: Thousands gather for funeral of fallen OPP constable

Police officers from across North America gathered in southern Ontario on Wednesday to attend the funeral of an Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officer killed in the line of duty last week.

Const. Grzegorz (Greg) Pierzchala’s family was joined by thousands at Barrie’s Sadlon Arena — including members of the OPP, other police services and first responders, Canadian Armed Forces members, and officials including Ontario Premier Doug Ford.

Many stood to speak during the service with Pierzchala’s family remembering him as a humble person who was always willing to do what was right. His younger sister Justyna saying, “Greg died as a hero and lived as an inspiration.”

“We’re extremely lucky to have had Greg as an older brother and a role model,” she said. “I love you Greg, you’ll always be my big brother.”

His younger brother, Michal Pierzchala, reflected on the day-to-day interactions he got to have with his brother.

“I’m really glad that I appreciated the little things and cherished the seemingly trivial time that I spent with him,” said Michal. “It was so valuable.”

Pierzchala, a former constable at the provincial legislature and member of the Armed Forces, had just passed his 10-month probation period when he was shot and killed 40 kilometres south of Hamilton on Dec. 27, 2022, in what has been described as an “ambush” attack.

“Losing Greg on the same day he learned he passed his probationary period, on the same day he would become the officer he always dreamed of being, it’s cruel beyond words,” said Ford, speaking during the service.

“As I think of this terrible loss, I also want to remember how blessed we are to have had someone like Greg. His service and sacrifice will never be forgotten.”

A sea of uniformed officers awaits the funeral cortège. @CityNewsTO pic.twitter.com/l5ZECe9ShM

— Caryn Ceolin (@carynceolin) January 4, 2023

CityNews learned somewhere between 7,000 to 8,000 officers, including some from the U.S., were on hand to honour the fallen 28-year-old.

The private service got underway at 11 a.m. Around 9:15 a.m., police officers began marching through the pouring rain with hundreds of service members lined up along Bayview Avenue to honour the funeral cortege as it passed by.

Members of the public were invited to observe the procession as it made its way from Adams Funeral Home to the arena. Community members showed up and lined the streets to pay their respects despite the cold and wet weather.

“Just here to support the family and out of respect for the officer,” said John Dwinnell. “Something like this is a travesty, the guy was just starting his career. They’re doing a job that is a really difficult job.”

Barrie resident Marion Jackson worked for the Canadian military for decades and has a son working for the fire department. She felt it was important to support the family and honour a fallen emergency responder.

“It’s just so sad, this poor fellow. I just feel for the family and all our police and paramedics,” she said. “They’re the ones who see all this stuff before we see it.”

“They go out everyday and they don’t know if they are going to come home.”

@CityNewsTO pic.twitter.com/xHUl2lgGTI

— Caryn Ceolin (@carynceolin) January 4, 2023

An in-person broadcast of Wednesday’s funeral service took place at the Caledonia Lions Hall in Haldimand County, where Pierzchala was based with the OPP. Condolences can be left for his family on the memorial page on the OPP website or in person at the Haldimand County OPP Detachment in Cayuga, Ont.

Randall McKenzie, 25, and 30-year-old Brandi Crystal Lyn Stewart-Sperry each face a charge of first-degree murder in his death.

Pierzchala is the fourth officer in Ontario to be fatally shot since September. Mourners previously gathered at Sadlon Arena in October for a police funeral for two South Simcoe officers, constables Morgan Russell and Devon Northrup, who were killed while responding to a disturbance call in Innisfil.

Toronto Police Const. Andrew Hong was shot and killed during a shooting rampage that spanned the GTA in September.

With files from The Canadian Press