Friends, police officers and members of the public attend a public visitation on Tuesday to express their condolences to the family of a Guelph police officer killed on duty last Thursday.
Const. Jennifer Kovach, 26, was responding to a call to assist another officer when she lost control of her cruiser and hit a Guelph city bus on March 14. She died in hospital. She was the third officer in Guelph to die in the line of duty.
A second public visitation will take place Wednesday from 2 p.m.-4 p.m. and 7 p.m.-9 p.m.at the Gilbert MacIntyre Hart Chapel.
A public funeral will be held 11:30 a.m. on Thursday at the Sleeman Centre at 50 Woolwich St. in Guelph. (CityNews.ca will be live streaming the service.) Members of the public are being asked to arrive at the Sleeman Centre between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. and enter through Gate 5.
Since Kovach’s death, her family has received an outpouring of support and sympathy not only from the Guelph community but from people around the province.
In a statement released Saturday they thanked the public for their words.
“We cannot adequately express our gratitude for the tremendous outpouring of sympathy and support from friends and strangers alike during this difficult time,” the statement read.
For those unable to attend the public visitations, books of condolences are available at the following York regional police stations:
- York Regional Police Headquarters located at 17250 Yonge St., Newmarket
- District Headquarters located at 240 Prospect St., Newmarket
- District Headquarters located at 171 Major Mackenzie Dr., Richmond Hill
- District Headquarters located at 3527 Baseline Rd., Sutton
- District Headquarters located at 2700 Rutherford Rd., Vaughan
- District Headquarters located at 8700 McCowan Rd., Markham
- York Regional Police Central Services Building located at 47 Don Hillock Dr., Aurora
“Often in these times of darkness and sadness communities unite and they bring strength,” Guelph police chief Bryan Larkin said on Monday.
“These messages of condolences, the messages of support and encouragement and words of sympathy means so very much not only to the family but our members of the community.”
In the meantime, Guelph police are appealing for witnesses to come forward.
In a tragic twist, Kovach had become an aunt on Wednesday night after her brother’s wife gave birth to a baby girl. It is the first grandchild for the Kovach family.
Kovach was remembered as a born daredevil who loved being a police officer. In her off hours, she enjoyed riding motorcycles and playing with her dogs.
The cause of the crash is not yet known. There was a light snowfall at the time and weather may have been a factor.
Kovach joined the force in 2009.
– with files from Erin Criger