Body of RCMP Const. Shelby Patton arrives in Wolseley
Residents of a Saskatchewan town lined the streets to show respect and mourning for Const. Shelby Patton, a six-year member of the Indian Head RCMP.
The body of Const. Patton, who was killed while on-duty, was transported to the funeral home in Wolseley, Sask. at around 12:15 p.m.
The casket of RCMP Const. Shelby Patton was transported through Wolseley, Sask. on Tuesday morning. (Stefanie Davis / CTV News)
The casket of RCMP Const. Shelby Patton was transported through Wolseley, Sask. on Tuesday morning. (Stefanie Davis / CTV News)
The Saskatchewan RCMP asked residents of the town to line the streets, and wear red as a show of support.
Patton, 26, initiated a stop with a stolen truck in Wolseley around 8 a.m. local time Saturday. He was struck by the vehicle and later died at the scene.
“Today, RCMP employees stand by Cst. Patton’s family, friends and the communities he served and wear red to pay tribute to him,” Saskatchewan RCMP said on Twitter.
Hundreds of people from Wolseley and surrounding communities lined the community’s Main Street to honour the fallen officer.
Jack Hosler, who lives just outside of town, said although he didn’t know Const. Patton, he showed up to offer support to those who did.
“Just to show respect and gratitude to the police officers, to the community, for everybody across Canada and across the world,” Hosler said. “Something like this is such a tragedy. In a small town, you never think of things like this happening on your doorstep. It happens and you feel just terrible.”
Dozens of RCMP officers descended on the town as they escorted Const. Patton’s casket.
First responders from other communities also attended to pay their respects.
“It’s like a brotherhood we have around here. As firefighters, we’re always out there and when we need the RCMP, they’re there when we need them,” Sirayne Perkins, the fire captain of Cowessess Fire and Rescue, said. “I came out here to show my support and it kind of hits you every now and then because you’re close with the RCMP.”
Gerald Hill, the mayor of Wolseley, said the days since Const. Patton’s death have been surreal. He said community members feel like they’re walking in a dream.
“The community is pretty raw, pretty hurting. You can tell by the turnout that people wanted to pay tribute,” Hill said. “Support like this is what you see in a small town like Wolseley. We’re not unique, you can go to any small town in Saskatchewan and you’ll see the same kind of outpouring.”
The mayor said he was pleased with the turnout for the procession, adding he is honoured that Const. Patton’s casket came to the town of Wolseley.
The Saskatchewan RCMP said a private funeral service will be held by Const. Patton’s family and details of the service will not be made public.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canada's most wanted fugitive arrested in P.E.I. in connection with Toronto homicide
A suspect in a fatal shooting in Toronto’s east end last summer has been arrested in Charlottetown, just one week after he topped a list of Canada’s most wanted fugitives.
BREAKING Federal employees will be required to spend 3 days a week in the office
Starting in September, public servants in the core public administration will be required to work in the office a minimum of three days a week. The Treasury Board Secretariat says executives will need to be in the office four days per week.
Concerns about plexiglass prompt inspections at some Loblaws locations in Ottawa
Inspections are underway at more than one Loblaws location in Ottawa after complaints were filed about tall plexiglass barriers.
Plane overshoots runway at airport in St. John's, N.L., no injuries reported
Investigators from the Transportation Safety Board of Canada are headed to St. John's, N.L., after a plane overshot a runway at the city's airport this afternoon.
Poilievre unrepentant over calling Trudeau 'wacko' as his MPs say Speaker should resign
An unrepentant Pierre Poilievre returned to the House of Commons on Wednesday to pepper the prime minister about his drug decriminalization policies after being booted the day prior for refusing to take back calling Justin Trudeau 'wacko' over his approach to the issue.
Five human skeletons, missing hands and feet, found outside house of Nazi leader Hermann Göring
Archeologists have unearthed the skeletons of five people, missing their hands and feet, at a former Nazi military base in Poland.
Toddler of Phoenix first responder dies after bounce house goes airborne
A two-year-old child died after a strong gust of wind sent the bounce house he was in airborne and into a neighbouring lot in central Arizona, the Pinal County Sheriff's Office said.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh confirms his party will support the Liberals' federal budget
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says his party will support the federal budget, ending any speculation that the party could pull out of its deal with the minority Liberal government.
Dental care program accepting claims for 1 million seniors
Citizens' Services Minister Terry Beech says 1,200 seniors have already visited a dentist and had their claims processed by the federal government's new dental care plan.