A 31-year-old man has been charged with first-degree murder recently over the death of a veteran police officer who was hit by a vehicle in an incident that investigators deemed an “intentional and deliberate act.”
While talking about the death of the police officer, interim police Chief James Ramer said Const. Jeffrey Northrup was responding to reports of a robbery progress in the parking garage at Toronto City Hall when he was killed in an incident which also left another officer injured.
Ramer called it a “senseless and devastating tragedy” and said the 31-year veteran police officer was deliberately struck by a vehicle after he responded to a 911 call for a robbery in progress. He said a female officer was injured and taken to the hospital but the officer since been released.
Police revealed that an arrest had been made in connection with the case, and later revealed the charge against the suspect, whose name is Umar Zameer. They made it known that a publication ban prohibits them from releasing additional details.
Municipal and provincial have offered condolences to Northrup’s bereaved family and friends, and thanked him for serving his community for many decades.
Ramer said the Northup should be remembered as an “outstanding police officer and member of the community.”
He said: “He was just full of personality… loved by everyone, and just coming into work every day was his pride and joy.
“He loved his job and went in to do that job every day and despite the dangers that we occasionally face he continued to do that job to the best of his ability.”
Ramer made it known that Northrup had been training newly recruited officers until April, when he asked to go back to the major crimes unit.
He said: “Despite 31 years on the job he was eager to do that. It speaks to the kind of officer he was and the dedication that he had that it was at this stage of his career that he was going into the major crimes unit.”
Toronto Mayor John Tory disclosed Northrup had worked as a court officer but “achieved his ambition” of joining the police ranks and then “served his city… with distinction.”
“So it is with immense gratitude and profound sadness that we mark this tragic loss,” the Mayor disclosed.
Tory remarked that the hardest part of his job is when tragedy befalls the city.
He said: “Nothing can prepare any of us, the people in the city of Toronto, the rest of the members of the police service, for news like this.”
“I begin, on behalf of the three million people who our police officers serve, by extending to the family of officer Northrup our deepest condolences.
“That’s to his wife, and to his children, and to his mother, and all the member of his family and his friends.”
The Premier of Ontario, Doug Ford has offered his condolences to friends and family of Northrup.
While offering the condolences, Ford tweeted: “I’m terribly saddened to hear the tragic news of Const. Jeff Northrup who was killed in the line of duty.
“Jeff served his community for 31 years. My deepest condolences to his wife, three kids and the entire Toronto Police Service. We are with you mourning this devastating loss.”
The Toronto Police Association announced it’s currently attending to Northrup’s wife and children and requests that the public respects their privacy.
