A coach, a mentor, a leader: Slain OPP Sgt. Eric Mueller remembered as ‘glue that held his shift together’

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Sgt. Eric Mueller, the Ontario Provincial Police officer slain in a taking pictures in Bourget Thursday morning, is being remembered as “the glue that held his shift collectively.”

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Mueller had been with the OPP for greater than 20 years and was dispatched to a “disturbance” at a house on Laval Avenue in the neighborhood southeast of Ottawa at round 2 a.m. Two different unidentified officers who responded to the scene and have been additionally shot have been taken to hospital for his or her accidents. One was recovering at residence, as of Thursday afternoon, whereas the opposite remained in hospital.

OPP Commissioner Thomas Carrique described Mueller, 42, as an exemplary officer and household man who has demonstrated dedication to responsibility and dedication to his colleagues over a 21-year policing profession. The OPP Affiliation mentioned the officer had a spouse and two kids.

Mueller started his profession in policing as a particular constable within the offender transport unit in Ottawa. He was employed as a provincial constable in 2006 after which was promoted to sergeant in 2018 in recognition of his efficiency, Carrique mentioned at a press convention Thursday afternoon.

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“He’s described by his colleagues as a coach, a mentor — somebody everybody regarded as much as because the glue that held his shift collectively, the very best chief that many individuals ever had the privilege of working for,” Carrique mentioned.

“And once more, our hearts are damaged, as we bear in mind Eric, we stand beside his household.”

Thursday was not the primary time Mueller was harmed within the line of responsibility.

In 2010, Mueller informed a courtroom of the trauma he skilled after he was severely injured when he was crushed and dragged alongside the facet of his cruiser by the trailer of a transport pushed on the westbound exit of Hwy. 401 at Cardinal on April 4, 2008.

“What I remembered essentially the most was the concern of not being a police officer once more,” Mueller, then a 27-year-old Grenville OPP constable, informed court docket a the time.

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Mueller suffered in depth accidents, together with a badly damaged proper leg. He required three surgical procedures earlier than the leg started to fix correctly.

“I didn’t know the extent of my accidents however the expression on my colleagues’ faces mentioned all of it,” Mueller informed the court docket in 2010.

Mueller described the collision as “a life-altering incident.” He slept sitting up for 4 months after the primary surgical procedure due to the ache in his hip and leg. Later surgical procedures included a bone graft, which was required to assist the leg mend. A few of his leg muscle tissue atrophied and even the straightforward activity of lifting his foot off the bottom raised fears the leg would break once more, Mueller mentioned on the time.

Mueller resumed administrative duties early in 2009 and returned to full service in August of 2009.

Invoice Dickson, the OPP’s supervisor of media relations, mentioned he didn’t know Mueller properly, however described him as “the nicest man you would ever hope to satisfy.”

The Russell County detachment is a close-knit group, mentioned Dickson. “That is essentially the most traumatic form of factor that would occur.”