Gunpoint Arrest Ends Safely

While working a paid duty in the downtown core in November 2024, Constable Matthew Oberle heard a call on his radio for a person with a gun nearby.

“This individual was pointing a gun at drivers,” the rookie officer recalled. “This person was unpredictable, and I was concerned and wanted to confront him and get him into custody as soon as possible.”

Oberle saw a man matching the suspect description pull a silver gun from his hoodie pocket and brandish it as he approached a vehicle stopped in heavy traffic.

“When I approached him, I told him to drop the gun,” said Oberle. “He complied and put it on the ground. Once I had the suspect under control on the ground, other officers arrived and put him in handcuffs.”

The 11 Division officer became a uniformed officer last year.

“This was the first time I drew my firearm in my six months on the job,” Oberle pointed out. “The training I received proved extremely important in this case. We practiced these gunpoint arrests many, many times and I felt the training kicked in in this scenario.”

Getting a gun off the street, said Inspector Peter Wehby, is incredibly significant.

“We will never know how many crimes could have been committed by that gun, but what we know is that it is off the street and we have saved someone somewhere. I am so proud of this officer. This is amazing work. Our training is world-class and it shows. He is proof that the training works.”