A graveside memorial service was held July 28 to mark the 20th anniversary of the death of Sgt. Rick McDonald of Sudbury Regional Police.
“Twenty years may have passed, but he will never be forgotten,” said a tweet from Greater Sudbury Police.
“Our 'Mon Chum' will always be remembered for his sense of humour, his strong personality & his commitment to youth in our community.”
The 12-year veteran of Sudbury Regional Police was struck and fatally injured by a stolen vehicle that was fleeing police July 28, 1999. McDonald was deploying a spike belt when the collision occurred.
A passenger in the suspect vehicle was also killed, and two other youths were subsequently charged. McDonald was survived by his wife, a fellow police officer.
The Sergeant Rick McDonald Memorial Act came into effect on Jan. 1, 2000, which stiffened penalties for those who flee police. His death also saw Ontario toughen up young offender legislation.
In 2006, a highway overpass at the Hwy. 17 and Hwy. 69 interchange near Sudbury's Four Corners, where McDonald was hit and killed, was named in his honour.
Jeremy Trodd, the youth driving the vehicle in the incident that killed McDonald and Trodd's 17-year-old cousin Peter Nogonosh, is now 36 years old, and has had a long list of run-ins with the law since his release from jail in 2007.
