Fallen RCMP officer David Wynn honoured with memorial at St. Albert Park

Whenever Shelly Wynn visits Lacombe Park Lake in St. Albert, she thinks of her late husband.

"This park actually was one of the first places that he brought our sons fishing here in Alberta. There was actually a moment when Dave was in the water retrieving a fishing rod — it's a very special place," Wynn said Tuesday at the announcement of a memorial planned for RCMP Const. David Wynn.

"The boys actually still come here as well on a regular basis, so I think this is going to be great," Wynn said.

Wynn and auxiliary Const. Derek Bond were shot on Jan. 17, 2015 while confronting a suspect about a stolen vehicle found at the Apex casino in St. Albert.

Wynn died of his injuries. Bond recovered after being shot in the arm and torso.

The suspect, Shawn Rehn, was found dead in a nearby rural home. He had killed himself.

Construction on the memorial is expected to start late this summer and be completed by the fall. It will be a large rock with plaques that describe Wynn and the qualities he embodied.

St. Albert RCMP Insp. Ken Foster, who was posted to the detachment after the incident, said the community is playing a vital role in the memorial project. 

"The community has also been hurt by this, and it gives them a place to come and reflect as well as the family and RCMP members as well, so they don't forget, " said Foster.

A charity hockey game is planned for the fall to help pay for the memorial. Both of Wynn's sons will play.

In addition to the memorial, an endowment fund has been set up in Wynn's name for students pursuing careers as first responders.    

Shelly Wynn said her husband would be proud of that. 

"I think that's the most important thing, being able to help someone on a yearly basis in Dave's name, " she said.

On top of a $100,000 donation from the City of St. Albert, donations from the public are being accepted.