Slain Toronto cop Marc Pinizzotto hailed as a hero, the 'best dad' ever
· Toronto Sun
The murder of Toronto Police Emergency Task Force member Const. Marc Pinizzotto has reverberated across the city and country.
On a sunny Wednesday afternoon, that tragic event culminated in swells of blue tears for the 43-year-old hero cop. A devastating loss for his family, friends, police colleagues, the city and country.
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The 18-year Toronto Police veteran was shot and killed while executing search warrants in a North York high-rise on June 11. One of the warrants was linked to the March shooting at the U.S. Consulate.
Killer bullet a ‘fluke’ shot
Pinizzotto — married and a father of twins — died later in a hospital. One law enforcement source told the Toronto Sun that the bullet that killed the beloved officer was a “fluke shot” that hit an area not protected by his vest.
In addition to his family, wife Andrea and the couple’s 14-year-old twins Daniella and Domenic, there was an estimated 10,000 cops from across Canada and the U.S., along with dignitaries who packed the Toronto Congress Centre in Etobicoke to reflect on his life.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford, U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra, Ontario Lt.-Gov. Edith Dumont and Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow were among the dignitaries in attendance.
Delivering the eulogy was Sgt. Ken Lefort, who leads the ETF unit that Pinizzotto was assigned to, noting that he had known the fallen officer for “the entirety of his 18-year career.” He described his friend as “professional, competent, courageous and had an unwavering commitment to his teammates.
“He made everyone better just by being around,” Lefort said. “So whether it was on the ice or in the lineup, he was a rock star. He was brave, disciplined and ultra reliable. To me, he was invincible.”
Police work was his calling
Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw said Pinizzotto — whose nickname was “Pinner” — represented “courage” and “excellence.
“Policing is one of the few professions that cannot press pause, even when our world seemingly stops,” Demkiw said. “You all continue to show up, including the ETF, who literally continued to serve in the hours following Marc’s death despite the sorrow, the grief, the anger, you all still reported for duty and continued to serve our Toronto Police officers.
A slew of cops, family and friends spoke during the emotional, tearful 2 1/2-hour ceremony.
His mother Linda pleaded for something positive to come out of his tragic death. She said her middle son was kind, loyal and cared about others, lessons to take away from the tragedy.
“Marc is a hero. He stepped into policing with passion, dedication and an unwavering commitment to serving his community,” she told the silent crowd. “For Marc, policing was not simply a career, it was a calling, it was his legacy.”
‘Know we’ve got you’
Pinizzotto’s love of his family, the ETF and hockey filled the cavernous hall. Besides the love and a few laughs, there was an undercurrent of bitterness at the criminals who put everyone in the room.