Pogrzebali Polaka niedawno zamordowanego przez RCMP
Sprawiedliwy
An Ottawa police officer stabbed to death in his cruiser on Dec. 29
was remembered by hundreds at a Polish memorial service Monday evening
as a good friend, a devoted father and an immigrant who achieved his
dream.
A large photo of Const. Eric Czapnik, 51, looked out at pews filled
with nearly 400 people at Saint Hyacinth Roman Catholic Polish Church.
His widow, Anna Korutowska, sat in the front holding three-year-old
Anthony, the youngest of the couple's four children. The three others
are young adults who moved away from home years ago.
Family friend Hannah Chmielewski said this Christmas was the first
time in several years that they'd been together.
"It's very sad that it was the last one — that won't happen again,"
said Chmielewski, who described Czapnik as "a good friend you could
count on at any time."
He will be dearly missed, she said.
Kasia Kubik, another friend, said she is turning to her faith to cope
with the loss, praying for Czapnik and his family.
'A very, very good person'
Eric Czapnik is survived by his widow, Anna Korutowska, and four
children, including three-year-old Anthony. (CBC)"My mind is spinning
— you know, it's hard, it's really hard," she said. "He was a good
father, a good husband, a good friend — a very, very good person."
Marek Gryko, a neighbour and close friend, said his last memory of
Czapnik was a vision of him arriving at Christmas mass after it had
already started, striding from the back of the church to the front
with young Anthony in his arms, past all the other people sitting in
the pews.
Remembering Eric Czapnik
Visitations are being held for Czapnik at Beechwood Cemetery on
Tuesday and Wednesday from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m.
On Thursday, police officers from across the country are expected to
attend a massive service for Czapnik at the Ottawa Civic Centre,
preceded by a public funeral procession from Carleton University that
is expected to shut down a stretch of Bank Street over the noonhour.
The Ottawa Police Service and the Ottawa Police Association have also
opened a trust for Czapnik's children and are asking for donations to
the Ottawa Police Memorial Foundation in lieu of flowers. Donations
can be made at any Scotiabank branch.
"He was like this big tower walking with a little boy … just to make
sure he sees everything," Gryko said.
Most of the people attending the service were members of the local
Polish community that Czapnik quickly became involved in after
immigrating from Poland in 1990. He had volunteered for the church and
the Polish community association.
His friend Wlodek Ciepala said it is unjust that Czapnik died so soon
after becoming a police officer, as he had always dreamed of doing.
"He personifies a lot what many of us immigrants who came to this
country chase at — dreams," Ciepala said. "And he achieved it."
The congregation sang and prayed as organ music soared through the
small church.
After the Polish-language service presided over by parish priest
Janusz Jajesniak, hundreds of people lined up to offer their
condolences to the family.
"We will offer whatever is needed anytime of night, day — whatever,"
said Gryko, adding that a constant stream of friends and family have
been visiting Czapnik's widow, bringing her food and making sure she's
OK.
"We're making sure Anna is not alone."
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Court appearance
The suspended RCMP officer charged with first-degree murder in
Czapnik's death was scheduled to appear in court Tuesday morning.
Kevin Gregson, 43, an RCMP officer under suspension after receiving a
conditional discharge in 2007, made a brief first appearance last
week. He is in protective custody under suicide watch at lawyers'
requests.