Honouring Heroes at Police Memorial

Constable Andrew Hong’s is now engraved alongside hundreds police officers who died in the line of duty.

The 24th annual Ontario Police Memorial Ceremony of Remembrance at Queen’s Park was held on May 7, honouring Constable Hong, along with Ontario Provincial Police Constable Greg Pierzchala, South Simcoe Police Constables Morgan Russell and Devon Northrup, and Durham Regional Police Service Constable Vicki Lynn Wilson, who died in 1992.

On September 12, 2022, Constable Hong was shot and killed while on his lunch break, the first in a string of attacks that day by a lone gunman.

“Thousands of people have chosen to be here, and their presence is a reminder that loss must not define us. Rather, it’s the love, courage and solidarity to honour these officers,” said Ontario Lt.Gov. Elizabeth Dowdeswell. “More than the names etched in stone on the walls, this ceremony is about the lives these officers lived. And today, we uphold their memories.”

She continued to describe qualities of every officer, calling Constable Hong a “gentle giant, whose love of policing was only outmatched by his love for his family.”

Constable Hong’s name is etched alongside 276 others, and he’s the 43rd Toronto Police officer to be placed on the memorial wall.

Joining Lt.Gov. Dowdeswell in speaking was Premier Doug Ford, Solicitor General of Ontario Michael Kerzner; Minister of Public Safety Marco Mendicino, Leader of the Conservative Party Pierre Poilievre and President of the Ontario Police Memorial Foundation Jason Tomlinson.

“These officers, these heroes, whose names are etched in the stone behind me, represent the province's finest. They were sons, brothers and sisters, husbands and wives, mothers and fathers,” Ford said.

“They were brave, selfless people, who chose a life of service, of protecting people and our communities. They each made the ultimate sacrifice on our behalf, they each leave a void that will never be filled.”