December 27, 2022
Gunshot
Ontario Provincial Police
On the afternoon of Tuesday December 27, 2022 Ontario Provincial Police Constable Grzegorz (Greg) Pierzchala was shot and killed while responding to a call of a vehicle in a ditch just west of Hagersville Ontario.
28-year-old OPP Cst. Pierzchala was dispatched just after 2:30 PM to a vehicle in a ditch on Indian Line and Concession 14 just west of Hagersville. As he exited his police vehicle, he was ambushed by two subjects when they opened fire on the officer, severely injuring him before he had a chance to pull out his own firearm and defend himself. After the shooting, the two subjects stole a vehicle from a Good Samaritan who also stopped to provide assistance and fled the scene. The subjects ditched the vehicle and fled on foot. They were tracked by a police canine unit and apprehended. Cst. Pierzchala was pronounced dead at the hospital. The two subjects were charged with First Degree Murder of a police officer.
Cst. Pierzchala was originally from Barrie Ontario where he was a leader in the wrestling community. He spent some time in the Canadian Armed Forces before becoming a Special Constable at Queen’s Park. He joined the OPP in 2021, and after finishing his training he began patrolling in a one-person patrol vehicle in April of 2022. On the morning of Tuesday December 27, 2022, he was informed he had passed his probation and was now a full-fledged OPP officer. He was then dispatched to the vehicle in a ditch call where he was murdered.
Constable Pierzchala leaves behind his family. Our condolences go out to his family, friends and colleagues. He will be remembered.