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Six Nations elected chief mourns slain OPP officer, says community grief supports in place

A coffin with red flag draped over it. A black police hat sits on top of the coffin.
Six Nations Elected Chief Mark Hill mourned the loss of OPP Const. Grzegorz (Greg) Pierzchala who was tragically killed in the line of duty on Dec. 27. Hill called on the community to come together to heal from the tragic events. Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Oakley/ Ontario Provincial Police Association Communications.
Andrew Dow - CJKS - Ohsweken • ON | 10-01-2023
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Six Nations Chief Mark Hill expressed his condolences for fallen Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Officer Const. Grzegorz "Greg" Pierzchala on Friday.

Pierzchala was tragically shot and killed in the line of duty on Dec. 27, 2022. Two people have been arrested and charged with first degree murder in connection with his death.

In a Chief Update with CJKS, Hill spoke about how the events have affected many locals and what community grief supports are being offered to those in need.

"I want to acknowledge how difficult this time has been for our police, our first responders as well as our community members and we all must lean on each other and support one another through the grief and trauma that this incident has caused," he said on Jan. 6.

Hill said he was grateful to attend the funeral to honour the life of Pierzchala on Jan. 4 in Barrie: the chief attended with Six Nations Police Chief Darren Montour, Six Nations Fire Chief Ashley Russell-Taylor, Paramedic Chief David Skye and 26 members of the Six Nations Police Service.

Hill called for Six Nations community members to heal together.

"I know there's been a lot of tragedy happening within our community over the past months," he said. "And I really think its time that our community all come together and figure out what is the best way forward in how we all as a community have to heal due to these ongoing tragedies and again I just want to send a huge hug to everyone who needs who right now because there's so much happening within our community and looking forward to brighter days ahead."

In June, 2 men were charged with murder in connection to the 2020 murder of Six Nations resident Ruth Ann Longboat. Then in December, the Six Nations of the Grand River community learned the verdict of Peter Khill who was undergoing a third trial for the killing of Jonathan Styres, a Six Nations resident, in 2016. Hill said the community is continuing its efforts to try and heal from those tragedies as well.

For anyone in need of support or in need of someone to talk to, you can call the Six Nations Crisis Line at (519) 445-2204 or Six Nations Mental Health and Addictions at (519) 445-2143.

Listen below for the full CJKS story:

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