A Toronto police officer, who was in a two-vehicle crash on Saturday afternoon, has died.
Const. John Zivcic, 34, was responding to a call about an impaired driver when his unmarked cruiser collided with another car at Bloor Street West and Neilson Drive, near Highway 427.
Zivcic, who was a police officer for six years, was taken to St. Michael’s Hospital where he died of his injuries at 12:35 p.m. on Monday, deputy police chief Peter Sloly said during a news conference outside the hospital.
Sloly expressed condolences on behalf of police chief Bill Blair who was out of the country on vacation.
“On behalf of the police chief I want to express our deepest condolences to the Zivcic family,” Sloly said. “It’s a sad day for all of us.”
The officer leaves behind his mother and a brother and sister who thanked the hospital, police and public but requested privacy. Arrangements were being made to donate his organs, police said.
“We’re going to be burying a 34-year-old officer and there’s no way to describe the tragedy and the impact that that has on the Toronto Police Service and John’s family,” Police union head Mike McCormack said.
“The loss of any police officer is a sad thing for us,” Toronto Police Services Board chair Alok Mukherjee said. “It’s a difficult thing for us and for somebody who was so young to have left us is particularly sad.”
McCormack said the Zivcic family is leaning toward a full police funeral which would take place in St. Catharines.
Zivcic, who joined police in August 2007, is the 23rd officer to be killed in the line of duty in Ontario. Click here for a list of other officers killed on duty.
Condolences poured in on social media from politicians and the general public.
“His service and courage will not be forgotten,” Deputy mayor Norm Kelly said.
“My heart goes out to the family and friends of Constable John Zivcic, and all of our police officers, who have suffered a devastating loss today,” Premier Kathleen Wynne said in a statement.
Lt.-Gov. David Onley also extended his condolences to Zivcic’s family and friends.
“My thoughts and prayers are with them at this time, as are those of Ruth Ann,” he said.
Mayor Rob Ford also expressed his condolences, tweeting that he was saddened to learn of Zivcic’s death.