Runners streamed into the nation’s capital to complete a three-day memorial run in honour of police officers who died in the line of duty. The 22nd annual National Peace Officer’s Memorial started on Thursday in Toronto and concluded in Ottawa on Saturday. About 300 runners from various police services from across the country joined with about 185 cyclists to pay their respects to those who’ve been lost. In the last year, seven police officers have died in the line of duty in Canada. The fallen include Toronto police Const. Marc Pinizzotto, OPP Const. Tarun Bali and OPP Sgt. Brandon Malcolm. It comes the same week Belleville police Const. Jeff Smith was critically injured when a gunman opened fire while he was stationed outside the Sons of Jacob Synagogue in that city. “We’re here to remember those who have made that ultimate sacrifice, before us and the line of duty,” said OPP Sgt. Brian Hodgins. It was Det. Paul Kent’s eighth year participating in the Ride to Remember. He says the event is meaningful for him and other officers. “I remember all the officers that have fallen but (also) remember the officers that had close calls. I remember the officers that actually made it every year. This is a celebration of us making it through another year, myself included,” Kent said. Kent has been a police officer for more than 21 years serving with the Hamilton Police Service and Halton Regional Police Service. “Policing is a very difficult job on so many different level and it’s so deeply meaningful to me. I hope I can continue to do this year after year after year, to remember my colleagues in honour of them and honour the ones that are here,” said Kent. “It’s been a journey, but here I am, happy to be here. I’m happy to be here. Happy to have the ability to do this.” The runners started in Toronto on Thursday and ran for about 460 kilometres in a relay-style race ending at Parliament Hill. The cyclists started on Wednesday at the Ontario Police College in Aylmer, Ont. and for over four days, rode nearly 800 kilometres to Parliament Hill. “I’ve been doing this for 13 years. It’s great to talk to people, reflect and talk about our fallen officers,” said Laurie Mccann, a Peel Regional Police officer. “It’s the families. We come here and see, the families of the fallen and how much this means to them.” Karen Clemons and her son attend the ceremony every year to support her husband, a retired police officer and the many officers still serving. “They are doing what we what I know I couldn’t do, They’re brave, they’re strong,” Clemons said. “They go out there and they protect us and we need them.”
