The OPP Association Board of Directors and our OPPA membership will join thousands of police and peace officers on Parliament Hill in Ottawa Sunday September 24, 2023 for the 46th Annual Canadian Police and Peace Officers’ Memorial. This year the names of thirteen officers are being added to the Memorial (11 current and 2 historical). 

The complete list of names of the officers being added, the weekend itinerary, dress orders and parade orders can be viewed at cppom.ca.

For OPP members attending the order of dress for uniform members attending is Dress Order Number 1. If you do not have Dress Order Number 1, please attend in working uniform. Plain clothes members who choose, may wear business attire. Any special constables and auxiliary members attending should wear Dress Order Number 2. Civilians should wear business attire.The Ontario Police Memorial Pin shall be worn during this event.

The event will be livestreamed on the Canadian Police and Peace Officers’ Memorial X (Twitter), Facebook, Youtube and LinkedIn pages. The links are posted at cppom.ca/live. 

The names of three OPP officers will be added to the Memorial. They are our Heroes In Life, Not Death. OPP Detective Constable Steven Tourangeau, 35, of the Huron – Perth Community Street Crime Unit, Perth County Detachment tragically died in an on duty motor vehicle collision on May 29, 2023 when his unmarked police vehicle and a school bus collided at the rural intersection of Oxford Road 33 and Highway 59, northwest of Woodstock, around 7am. The 71yr old driver of the school bus was the only occupant, and also tragically lost his life in the crash. 

Detective Constable Tourangeau was a respected OPP officer, a dedicated husband and father to three young children. At the request of his family, on Monday June 5, 2023 a private, well attended Memorial Service was held to honour Steven in London, Ontario.

Steven’s service and sacrifice will always be remembered.

Sergeant Eric Mueller, of the Russell County OPP Detachment, was shot while responding to a disturbance call at a home. Three officers, who arrived at the scene, suffered gunshot wounds. Sergeant Eric Mueller was transported to the hospital and died as a result of his injuries.

In 2002, Sergeant Eric Mueller joined the Ontario Provincial Police as a special constable with the Offender Transport Program in the Ottawa Unit. On January 3, 2006, he was hired as a recruit and began his impressive career as a uniform member in Grenville (Prescott). He also worked at the Leeds County Detachment and was promoted to Sergeant in July 2018. During his career, Sergeant Mueller took on the position of coach officer and detachment liaison officer for the Auxiliary Unit.

In 2015, Sergeant Mueller was the recipient of the Commissioner’s Citation for Lifesaving. A testament to his bravery, he was recognized for working with others to physically lift a burning vehicle to remove an injured suspect.

Sergeant Mueller was a dedicated member of the OPP family, whose contributions to the organization and the communities he served did not go unnoticed. He was described by his colleagues as a strong team player who could be counted on whenever necessary. He led by example and always represented the core values of the OPP through his actions, words and sense of duty.

Sergeant Mueller’s devotion and courage will never be forgotten.

Provincial Constable Grzegorz (Greg) Pierzchala, of the Haldimand County Detachment, was shot and killed while responding to a motor vehicle collision in Hagersville, Ontario on Tuesday December 27, 2022.

Provincial Constable Pierzchala joined the OPP as a Special Constable with the Queen’s Park Detachment. On September 7, 2021, he was hired as a recruit and began his career as a Uniform member in Haldimand. He also had basic training as a Canadian Military Officer and held a Bachelor of Arts degree from York University.

He was an accomplished athlete. When he was hired, it was noted he had a 2nd Degree Black Belt in Okinawan Karate. In high school in Barrie, he participated in soccer, swimming, wrestling, rowing, and track and field. He competed in varsity wrestling and was an Academic All-Canadian. He was also fluent in Polish.

Provincial Constable Pierzchala had dreamed of becoming a police officer since he was a young boy. He had a brief opportunity to live out his dream and to do his best to keep our community safe. Greg will forever be remembered for his service and sacrifice.