Hundreds gather to honour fallen officers, including Sgt. Ryan Russell
Posted May 1, 2011 12:14 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Police officers and dignitaries from across Ontario gathered together Sunday morning to pay tribute to fellow officers lost in the line of duty.
The 12th annual Ceremony of Remembrance for Ontario’s fallen police officers took place at Queen’s Park.
Bagpipes played as seven names were added to the Wall of Honour — Toronto Sergeant Ryan Russell, Elgin County Constable Harry Fordham, Canadian National Railway Constable Robert Mahlig, Toronto Constable Edward Knox, East York Township Police Chief Thomas McCann, Port Arthur Police Chief Angus Joseph McLellan, and Kingston Sergeant Samuel James Arniel.
Russell is the ceremony’s only honoree to die this year. He was killed just before 5:30 a.m. on January 12 when trying to stop the driver of a stolen snowplow.
“Ryan was quite a guy,” said his father Glen Russell, choking back tears.
“It was very, very difficult when I first saw his name etched on the granite. It brought everything back, right to day one.”
Perhaps making the loss of his son a bit easier is knowing Ryan has helped a little boy regain his sight.
Russell’s family donated his eyes to a little boy who was previously unable to see, Nathan Lawrence. He and his family were invited to the memorial service by Russell’s widow Christine.
Russell and this year’s six other honourees join the 248 officers on the Wall of Honour. The public memorial is in a small park adjacent to the Ontario Legislature, and was dedicated on May 7th, 2000.
