Friends and fellow volunteers fondly remember slain Toronto Const. Jeffrey Northrup
"We are all grieving with his family"
Article content
Kristal Jones still cannot believe Const. Jeffrey Northrup is gone.
“It’s hard. It really is. It’s really sad. I haven’t even had a chance to just sit and process and cry and feel my sadness,” said one of the founders of Beyond the Blue, a support group for police officers and their spouses.
tap here to see other videos from our team.
Friends and fellow volunteers fondly remember slain Toronto Const. Jeffrey Northrup Back to video
tap here to see other videos from our team.
Jones said since news of Northrup’s death, the organization’s phones “have been going non-stop.”
The calls are coming from officers, court officers, dispatchers, and spouses.
“Spouses, what they feel is very real. Of course, they’re going to be scared,” Jones said. “I’m with them. My husband is a Toronto Police officer.”
A 31-year police veteran, the 52 Division officer was killed early Friday morning by a vehicle in City Hall’s underground parking after he and his partner responded to a report of a robbery-turned-stabbing. Umar Zameer, 31, faces a first-degree murder charge.
On a deeply personal level, Jones said she considered Northrup her lifesaver, as someone who validated her life when she navigated the darkness of postpartum depression.
“I wanted to die. I didn’t want to live anymore, and he checked in on me every single day to make sure I was OK,” she said. “He was just one of those people that was just so kind.”
The two had been friends for at least seven years.
“These people that are wearing the uniform are actually just phenomenal people trying to do good in the world,” Jones said.
Northrup’s kindness extended beyond work duties; and deep into the success of Special Olympics Brampton.
Carole Lewis, who volunteers with the group, added of the Northrups: “As a family they were always a big part of our annual baseball tournament.”
tap here to see other videos from our team.
“It was complete disbelief at first,” when she first heard the constable was killed.
She knew him — as most have described — as a gentle giant who gave generously of his time.
“For him, it was more about the athletes. It was a great place for his daughter. But it was all about all the athletes with him,” Lewis said.
“I can’t believe it. I can’t tell you how good a family they are “
The Thin Blue Line Canada, which commemorates fallen officers, announced on its Facebook page, “we’re honoured to have been chosen to manage the memorial and fundraising items.
“At the request of the family, ALL proceeds will be donated to Special Olympics.”
Yet another gesture of support from the Northrups comes as no surprise to the group.
“It also speaks to how amazing he was as a person that all of these people, we’re all grieving with his family,” Jones said.
Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.