CAYUGA Saying he is “outraged” over the shooting death of Const. Grzegorz Pierzchala, OPP Commissioner Thomas Carrique is calling for changes to protect officers and communities.
Carrique told a news conference late Wednesday night at the Cayuga OPP detachment that his “outrage” is over the fact that the man accused of murdering the rookie OPP officer was out on bail.
Randall McKenzie, 25, of Kingston, and girlfriend Brandi Crystal Lyn Stewart-Sperry, 30, of Hamilton, appeared in a Cayuga court Wednesday afternoon where they were 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 offenses that are firearms-related are not in that position moving forward.”
Carrique, in his opening remarks, said that, in 2018, McKenzie was prohibited for life of possessing any firearms. In 2021, McKenzie was charged with several firearm-related offenses 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 pm Tuesday. He was transported to West Haldimand General Hospital in Hagersville, where he was later dead pronounced.
Both McKenzie and Stewart-Sperry are in custody. They are to make their next virtual court appearance on Jan. 17.
The suspects fled after the shooting. Police first arrested Stewart-Sperry in a bush area near Mississauga Road, Ojibwe Road and Highway 6 South. Soon after, police arrested McKenzie, who followed orders to drop his gun and put his hands in the air.
McKenzie’s bail carried a number of conditions, including that he remain in his home and not possess any firearm, said Carrique. When McKenzie failed to show up for court in September, a warrant was issued for his arrest.
“Needless to say the murder of Const. Grzegorz Pierzchala was preventable,” Carrique said. “This should have never happened.
“Something needs to change.
He said police officers and the public deserve to be safeguarded against violent offenders who are charged with firearms-related offences.
Officers from the OPP’s criminal investigations branch will be going door-to-door to gather more evidence, said Carrique.
Details about funeral arrangements for Pierzchala are expected to be made public in the next few days.
Carrique said the officer’s family has asked for privacy.
Flags at the Cayuga detachment are at half-mast. Flowers have been delivered to the detachment in memory of the slain officer.
Pierzchala is the fifth Ontario police officer to die in the line of duty since September.
He is the first OPP officer killed on duty in southwestern Ontario since March, 8, 2010, when Const. Vu Pham, 37, died in a shootout on a rural road east of Clinton.
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