Regina police chief says officer safety remains top of mind

Hours after Monday’s funeral for two Edmonton police officers who were shot and killed in the line of duty, a police officer in Quebec lost her life while responding to a call.

Sgt. Maureen Breau with Quebec’s provincial police force — the Sûreté du Québec (SQ) — was stabbed to death Monday evening when she and another officer attempted to arrest a man at a home in Louiseville, around 100 kilometres northeast of Montreal.

With police officers facing more and more dangers while on the job, Regina Police Service Chief Evan Bray told reporters after Tuesday’s Board of Police Commissioners meeting that police officer safety is top of mind.

“The service we deliver to the community is very much a human service. It’s delivered by frontline officers. From the moment they started training in police college as a recruit all through their career, we focus on officer safety,” Bray said. “We only control one part of that.”

The police chief added the force always tries to ensure an adequate number of officers are present when responding to higher-risk calls.

“This air support unit is absolutely instrumental in increasing officer and community safety,” Bray said, referring to the Regina Police Service’s new plane.

“We really just try and work with our officers from a day-to-day tactics standpoint to make sure that they can find a way to interact with the public in a way that seems natural but always finding a way to ensure that they’re focusing on keeping themselves and the community safe at the same time.”

The Quebec police force said in a news release that even though the other officer was injured, their life is not in danger.

An independent investigation will be undertaken by Quebec’s police watchdog, since the 35-year-old suspect, whose identity has not yet been released, was shot and killed by police.

Breau, who was in her early 40s, had more than 20 years of experience with the force. She leaves behind her husband and two children.

The Regina Police Service is deeply saddened to hear of yet another loss in our Canadian policing family.

Sgt. Maureen Breau was killed in the line of duty last night in Quebec. Our thoughts and support are with her @sureteduquebec colleagues and loved ones as they grieve. pic.twitter.com/emANHFNIB1

— Regina Police (@reginapolice) March 28, 2023

— With files from The Canadian Press