South Simcoe Police Service will host a special community run and walk this afternoon (Sep. 23) to launch the 2026 National Peace Officers’ Memorial Run while paying tribute to three officers who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their communities.
The kick-off event will take place at 5 p.m. at the South Simcoe Police South Division, 81 Melbourne Drive in Bradford. Service members, family, friends and community members are invited to participate in the event, which will honour Police Constable Alan Kuzmich, Police Constable Devon Northrup and Police Constable Morgan Russell.
The local run marks the beginning of the National Peace Officers’ Memorial Run, an annual event established by the Peel Regional Police running team, The Pacers, to raise awareness of the Canadian Police and Peace Officers’ Memorial Service held on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.
Participants in the national run travel approximately 460 kilometres from Toronto to Ottawa, arriving in time for the annual memorial service, which will be held on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026.
The Bradford event will give participants a chance to remember South Simcoe’s fallen officers while supporting a national tradition that honours police and peace officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
As part of the event, runners and walkers will stop for moments of silence at Constable Devon Northrup Memorial Park and Alan Kuzmich Memorial Park, both named in memory of the fallen officers.
The National Peace Officers’ Memorial Run held special significance for Constable Devon Northrup, who participated in the event and served as Team Captain for South Simcoe Police.
Following his death, members of the original South Simcoe Police running team have continued their involvement in the event to help preserve his legacy and commitment to honouring fallen officers.
