FOG BLOG CANADIA POLITICS LOG: CALLS IN PARLIAMENT FOR BAIL REFORM AFTER GREG PIERZCHALA SHOOTING!

Ontario Provincial Police commish 'outraged,' demands bail reform after officer's killing CAYUGA – Saying he is “outraged” over the shooting death of a rookie police officer, OPP Commissioner Thomas Carrique is calling for changes he says will better protect law enforcement and broader communities. Carrique told a news conference late Wednesday night at the Cayuga OPP detachment that his anger is largely due to the fact that the man accused of killing Const. Grzegorz (Greg) Pierzchala was out on bail on criminal charges, including assaulting a police officer. Randall McKenzie, 25, of Kingston and girlfriend Brandi Crystal Lyn Stewart-Sperry, 30, of Hamilton appeared in a Cayuga court Wednesday, charged with first-degree murder. “I’m outraged by the fact that McKenzie was out on bail and had the opportunity to take the life of an innocent officer,” Carrique said. “I know that there is a lot of interest in ensuring that, to see that changes are made, where possible, so that people charged with violent offences that are firearms-related are not in that position moving forward.”

Carrique said that in 2018 McKenzie was prohibited for life of possessing any firearms. In 2021, McKenzie was charged with several firearm-related offences and assaulting a peace officer.

Pierzchala, 28, was shot and killed while responding to a call about a car in a ditch along Indian Line Road, just west of Hagersville, at about 2:40 p.m. Tuesday. He was transported to West Haldimand General Hospital in Hagersville, where he died.