“Sergeant Eric Mueller was a hero in life, not just death, and will forever be remembered for his service and sacrifice.”
That’s a message from Mayor Gauri Shankar about a member of the OPP killed in the line of duty Thursday morning.
Eric Mueller, who used to work for the Grenville County detachment, was ambushed while responding to a call of gunshots in Bourget alongside two other officers. The three were rushed to an Ottawa hospital where Mueller succumbed to his injuries.
Shankar, a member of Prescott’s Police Services Board, says it’s devastating to see something like this knowing it could have been a friend of his.
“I don’t know what’s going on with society these days,” he says, “that we’re not respecting each other and especially authority, and it’s a sad state, so I’m hoping that something will turn around with this in the future.”
One of the other officers that was shot is in serious but stable condition at an Ottawa hospital, while the other had his wounds treated and is recovering at home. Shankar is wishing them both a speedy recovery.
A 39-year-old suspect has been arrested, but police have released few details and the investigation is still ongoing.
Flags have been lowered to half-mast outside Town Hall to pay respects to everyone affected.