Slain Ottawa police officer mourned

An Ottawa police officer stabbed to death in his cruiser on Dec. 29 was remembered by hundreds of officers and members of the public Tuesday during a visitation at Ottawa's Beechwood Cemetery.

Const. Eric Czapnik, 51, was killed last week outside the Ottawa Hospital. The father of four had been with the Ottawa police since April 2007.

Busloads of police officers arrived at the cemetery Tuesday to honour Czapnik, who was the first Ottawa police officer to be killed in the line of duty since 1983.

"I think this week is a week for mourning and grieving, but I still think there's a lot of anger," said Ottawa police Chief Vern White. "There's no way to understand or comprehend why this happens."

Quebec provincial police Sgt. Steve Lalonde travelled to Ottawa to attend the visitation.  

"It's very important for support to the family, to the police force, to show the unified membership that we have as police officers across Canada," Lalonde said.

Thousands of police officers from across Canada are expected to attend a ceremony for the fallen officer at the Ottawa Civic Centre Thursday afternoon.

Family, friends grieve at memorial service

Tuesday's visitation followed a Polish-language memorial service held for Czapnik Monday evening.

A large photo of Czapnik faced pews filled with nearly 400 people at Saint Hyacinth Roman Catholic Polish Church. Czapnik's widow, Anna Korutowska, sat in the front holding three-year-old Anthony, the youngest of the couple's four children. The three others are older and moved away from home years ago.

Family friend Hannah Chmielewski said this Christmas was the first time in several years that the family had been together.

"It's very sad that it was the last one — that won't happen again," said Chmielewski, who described Czapnik as "a good friend you could count on at any time."

Kasia Kubik, another friend, said she is turning to her faith to cope with the loss, praying for Czapnik and his family.

'A very, very good person'

"My mind is spinning — you know, it's hard; it's really hard," she said. "He was a good father, a good husband, a good friend — a very, very good person."

Marek Gryko, a neighbour and close friend, said his last memory of Czapnik was of him arriving at Christmas mass after it had already started, striding from the back of the church to the front with young Anthony in his arms, past all the other people sitting in the pews.

"He was like this big tower walking with a little boy … just to make sure he sees everything," Gryko said.

Most of the people attending the service were members of the local Polish community in which Czapnik quickly became active after emigrating from Poland in 1990. He had volunteered for the church and the Polish community association.

His friend Wlodek Ciepala said it is unjust that Czapnik died so soon after fulfilling his dream of becoming a police officer.

"He personifies a lot what many of us immigrants who came to this country chase at — dreams," Ciepala said. "And he achieved it."

The congregation sang and prayed as organ music soared through the small church.

After the service, presided over by parish priest Janusz Jajesniak, hundreds of people lined up to offer their condolences to the family.

"We will offer whatever is needed any time of night, day — whatever," said Gryko.

A constant stream of friends and family have been visiting Czapnik's widow, bringing her food and making sure she's OK, he said.

"We're making sure Anna is not alone," said Gryko.