WARMINGTON: Toronto cop who survived shooting returns to 'standing ovation' from peers

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Seeing this cop escape death and return to his station after being so rudely interrupted by a gunman who shot him was a new legendary chapter in Toronto Police history.

It was like officers at 53 Division were seeing a ghost!

This cop not only took a bullet, but he also returned to duty to complete his shift as well — with some understandable delays in between!

You may be able to shoot him, but no gunshot is going to kill this officer with five years on the job or prevent him from working his full day. He was shot in the abdomen, lost a large amount of blood, and went through life-saving emergency surgery.

But nothing was going to keep this Toronto copper off the job. Const. Tade Davoudi was back at work Thursday. As soon as the 29-year-old officer was released from Sunnybrook Hospital, his first stop was back at 53 Division to check in and to punch out.

It was part statement and part symbolic. But there was also paperwork to complete and personal stuff to gather as he headed home alongside his girlfriend toward the difficult path of healing from a gunshot wound.

He will not be doing all of this alone. On his way in and out of the station, Davoudi was showered with a “standing ovation” from his peers.

“It was incredible,” said one officer who could not believe what he was witnessing. “Unreal.”

They could not believe what they were witnessing, just 20 hours after the guy almost lost his life.

“He just got discharged and came to the station,” said the peer in awe, adding many were “teary-eyed.” The dedication of these men and women is off the charts. They all understood this was far better than the alternative.

“We are blessed with amazing cops,” said Chief Myron Demkiw.

He knows as well as everybody at 53 Division and the entire service understands that this was close to not being a joyous return to the office, and that another mass gathering of cops was just inches away from happening.

This good news comes less than a day after the robbery investigation in the Lillian St. and Sudan Ave. area, near Yonge St. and Eglinton Ave., where police have made arrests.

Toronto Police allege “during the investigation, officers approached two people,” where “one of them shot an officer and fled the area.” Police say “a man, woman and youth were arrested and charged in connection with the robbery, and the man was additionally charged in the shooting.”

Tibor Orgona, 21, of Toronto, was charged with attempted murder, unauthorized possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm knowing its possession is unauthorized, possession of a prohibited or restricted weapon knowing its possession is unauthorized, possession of a prohibited or restricted firearm with ammunition and two counts of possession of a firearm or ammunition contrary to prohibition order, careless use of a firearm, possession of a weapon, possession of a prohibited device or ammunition knowing its possession is unauthorized, failing to comply to a probation order, three counts of robbery, uttering death threats, breach of firearm prohibition order and breach of probation order.

Amanda O’Dette, 22, of Toronto, has been charged with conspiracy to commit an indictable offence while a 15-year-old youth was charged with three counts each of robbery and conspiracy to commit an indictable offence.

All three were in court Thursday. None of the charges on any of the accused have been tested in court.

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The province’s Special Investigations Unit said it is investigating the incident after a Toronto Police officer discharged a firearm during a robbery investigation.

The SIU added that no one appears to have been struck by police gunfire.

Meanwhile, sources say the alleged shooter has a long history with drug and alcohol issues, has been in the criminal justice system on numerous charges including gun offences. As my colleague Brad Hunter writes, this man has been a menace to society.

And, like so many alleged repeat offenders are today, was on bail!

Davoudi is fortunate to be alive. He’s not the first officer hurt this year. In fact, he was the 637th.

“This is another example of the dangers our officers face,” said Demkiw. “It speaks volumes about the dedication of the Toronto Police officers who serve our city every single day and go into harm’s way to do everything they can to keep our city safe.”

But it’s not safe out there.

“This city really needs to start paying attention to what’s going on here,” Toronto Police Association President Jon Reid said. “Every day we’re having shootings, murders. It’s becoming all too common. And to see this increase now where officers are being shot.”

It’s unacceptable.

“We need it to stop,” added Reid.

Words will not fix this. Actions will. Tougher bail. Longer jail terms.

On CP24m Mayor Olivia Chow said “we as a society cannot see it as normal. We cannot be numb to it. We have to say this is not acceptable. We have to work hard to stop that gun violence.” 

While officers said they appreciated her comments, they noted “she will still not pay us” — alluding to the fact that no contract has been agreed to between the police union and the city.

In a week of shootings, it’s not lost on the public that Toronto Police statistics show there have been 340 shootings in 2024 – 35 of which have resulted in people being murdered. The latest statistic came very close to being a Toronto cop.

Instead of a funeral, however, this tough officer left hospital and went back to work.