On-duty RCMP officer killed during traffic stop in southern Saskatchewan

An on-duty RCMP officer was killed in a collision near Wolseley and Francis Saturday morning.

During a media conference Saturday afternoon, Assistant Commissioner Rhonda Blackmore said officer Shelby Patton of the Indian Head RCMP detachment was killed while responding to a complaint of a stolen truck in an area southeast of Francis.

Patton was killed when he was struck by the truck as it attempted to flee the scene.

“Tragedy unfolded early this morning for our Saskatchewan RCMP family,” Blackmore said. “This morning along with the Indian Head detachment commander and Saskatchewan RCMP chaplain, I had to tell Constable Patton’s wife the difficult news that he is not coming home.”

“I am heartbroken for her and her family.”

Patton was by himself when he responded to the call of the stolen truck, which Blackmore said “originated” from Manitoba around 8 a.m.

Patton, 26, worked at the Indian Head detachment for the entirety of his six years and four months of service.

Before officially beginning his service in Saskatchewan, he spent February and March of 2015 on assignment at Parliament Hill.

“Patton’s family is also part of the RCMP family. They have lost a husband, son and brother,” Blackmore said. “No one should have to wake up and learn a family member died as a result of doing their job.”

Patton was following the stolen truck and pulled the vehicle over before he was struck and killed. The truck was later located in a rural area northeast of Francis after it fled the scene.

With the help of local farmers, two people, a man and a woman, were taken into custody. Charges are expected later.

Blackmore thanked a member of the public who provided medical assistance to Patton while waiting for emergency services.

“A tragedy such as this shakes our entire RCMP family to its core coast to coast,” she said. “Today Const. Patton will not be coming home from doing his job protecting the public.”

The last time a Saskatchewan RCMP officer was killed on duty was on July 20, 2012, when Const. Derek Pineo struck a moose.

When asked about the type of person Patton was, Blackmore had “nothing but the highest praise of this member,”

“The detachment commander actually mentioned to me, to create the ideal RCMP member you would clone Shelby Patton,” she said. “Just an outstanding individual dedicated to the public of Saskatchewan.”

The investigation is ongoing.