A regimental funeral is to be held today for two Edmonton police officers who were shot and killed by a 16-year-old boy.
A 2 1/2-kilometre procession started this morning from the Alberta legislature to Rogers Place downtown.
The funeral for Const. Travis Jordan, who was 35, and Const. Brett Ryan, who was 30, is to take place at the home arena for the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League.
The service is not open to the public but there will be a livestream, which is to be broadcast in an outdoor plaza near the arena.
Side streets were blocked off by police, fire and city trucks, with their emergency lights blinking, as hundreds of uniformed officers from across Canada marched behind two hearses.
Police have said the officers were responding to a family dispute at a northwest apartment complex on March 16, when the teen shot at them multiple times.
They said the boy next shot and wounded his mother during a struggle for the gun, then shot and killed himself.
Police said the same gun had been used in a shooting days earlier at a nearby Pizza Hut, leaving a man injured.
Police had also been called to the boy's home in November. Police said he was apprehended under the Mental Health Act and taken to hospital for an assessment.
Some people lined up along the route downtown before the procession began.
“We’re here to support all of the first responders, but in particular our son, who is a police officer with Calgary Police Service," said Jim Funk, alongside his wife, Chris.
“We feel so sad, especially for the families of the two officers, but that extends out to the whole first responder family nationwide.”
Chris Funk said the deaths of the officers "is probably the worst nightmare families can experience."
"Our hearts are with the EPS family," she said. "It’s very tragic.”
The day of the deadly shooting, the boy's mother called saying she was having trouble with her son. Police said there was no indication the boy had a gun or that the officers were walking into a high-risk or dangerous situation.
"We are beyond words as we continue to grieve this unspeakable loss," Jordan's family said in a statement released by police Sunday.
Jordan, who grew up in Nova Scotia, had been with the Edmonton force for 8 1/2 years.
Ryan was a paramedic before he became an Edmonton officer 5 1/2 years ago. His wife is expecting their first child.
"He was a multi-talented individual, dedicated friend, respected colleague, active community member and volunteer, and compassionate first responder whose calling was to help those in need," his family said in the statement.
banner image: The Canadian Press
