A procession honouring fallen Toronto police officer Const. Marc Pinizzotto took place Sunday afternoon, with colleagues escorting him from the Office of the Chief Coroner in North York to a funeral home in Thornhill.
In a news release, officials said the procession was scheduled to begin at approximately 3 p.m. It officially began moving at around 3:30 p.m.
The motorcade departed from the Office of the Chief Coroner at 25 Morton Shulman Ave. and travelled westbound on Sir William Hearst Avenue, northbound on Morton Shulman Avenue, eastbound on Wilson Avenue, before heading northbound on Yonge Street to Kane-Jerrett Funeral Home at 8088 Yonge St.
Police asked that only TPS-approved vehicles and authorized members participate in the procession.
Members of the public who planned to attend were also asked to not to obstruct traffic or stop on roadways along the route.
‘We’ll never forget about Marc and his family’: TPA
Among those attending Sunday’s procession was Clayton Campbell, president of the Toronto Police Association, which represents which represents more than 8,000 police and civilian members of the Toronto Police Service.
“What a turnout. You know, it’s all about Marc and his family. He’s a hero. Marc’s a hero,” Campbell said.
“When most of us were sleeping in bed, he was out there executing a higher high-risk search warrant, and it cost him his life.”
Campbell said he had the honour of being part of the motorcade that transported the fallen officer from the scene of the incident in North York to the Corner’s Office on Thursday afternoon, saying difficult times like these are when members of the service always come together.
“At the Toronto Police Association, we never forget members who were killed in the line of duty: Jeffrey Northrup, Andrew Hong, Laura Ellis, that was killed in the early 2000s, we don’t forget about them and we’ll never forget about Mark and his family,” he said.
The union president went on to say that the fatal shooting of Const. Pinizzotto has caused feelings of devastation, and sadness, but also anger and pride.
“You know, we have police officers been murdered, the suspect is still alive. So those are some of the challenging thoughts you have inside. But I think pride, you look at this, how can you not feel pride? How can you not have chills down your spine when you’re involved in something like this, and we’re just here proud to support our members here today,” said Campbell, adding that members of Pinizzotto’s unit were back on the job the night their colleague was killed because they had calls for “firearms and violence” to respond to.
“They’re working there today, and it’s just absolutely amazing, and we’re just so proud to represent them.”
Pinizzotto was a long-serving Toronto police officer
An 18-year member of Toronto Police Service, Pinizzotto was also a married father of two and a former elite hockey player.
He was shot and killed while he and his fellow officers with the Emergency Task Force, on which he’d served for more than five years, were executing a search warrant in North York on June 11.
Pinizzotto’s death has prompted an outpouring of support from fellow officers, community members, and elected officials.
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Books of condolence available
The service has also announced books of condolence will be available for members of the public wishing to pay their respects.
A book of condolence will be available at Toronto Police Headquarters, 40 College St., from June 15 to June 26 between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on weekdays. Visitors will be required to pass through a security screening before entering the building.
Additional books of condolence are available at 23 Division, located at 5230 Finch Ave. W., and at 33 Division, at 50 Upjohn Rd., from June 13 to June 26 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., including weekends.
People can also pay their respects to the fallen officer online.
