Fog blamed for fatal collision

Page 4

Walpole Island Police Constable Paul Neudert died in a collision between two Walpole Island cruisers on May 7, north of the reserve in St. Clair Township.

Neudert was travelling in his police vehicle in heavy fog when he was hit by another police vehicle driven by Sgt. Lyle Johnson. Both officers were rushed to the hospital in Wallaceburg with serious injuries. Neudert succumbed shortly thereafter. Johnson remains in hospital in fair condition.

They were heading toward the Petrolia OPP detachment to do administrative work when they collided.

News of Neudert's death shocked the Walpole Island community he had served for four years. Const. Neudert's funeral was held at the First Baptist Church in Wallaceburg on May 11. Walpole Island Chief, Joe Gilbert, conducted the service. Gilbert is appreciative of the interest shown by other police services:

"I know in cases like this, there is always a lot of support -we witnessed it first-hand. This has assisted the family and community as a whole."

Originally from Six Nations, Neudert, 42, graduated from police college, then served with the Hamilton Wentworth police force for two years. The father of six wanted to be a police officer since he was a child, said Foster Cornelius, also a First Nations constable and Neudert's friend. Speaking to hundreds who crowded the church, an emotional Cornelius said Neudert's desire to be a police officer showed in his work.

"It's really a pleasure to do a job you dreamed of as a child. Not many of us get to do that. At least he accomplished his dream."

Johnson was brought to the funeral by ambulance and carried inside on a stretcher. He lay nearly motionless in the aisle across from Neudert's wife, Sorina, who was holding the couple's youngest child, eight-month-old Monika.

The couple also have a toddler named Cassandra. One of Neudert's four children from a previous marriage, Samantha, sat with Sorina. Neudert's other three children are Brian of Brantford, and Leslie and Brennan of Sudbury.

Neudert's mother, Gloria Neudert, was overcome when her son's flag-covered coffin was brought in by six uniformed police officers.

Neudert's brother, Gary was there to offer comfort. Nearby were Sorina's parents, who arrived from Romania a month ago to meet their son-in-law for the first time. The couple wrote a letter addressed to their son-in-law that was read by Gilbert at the funeral.

After the service, nearly 300 police officers participated in the funeral procession. Ontario Lt.-Gov. James Bartleman attended the funeral, as did OPP Commissioner Gwen Boniface.

"Our members out of the Petrolia detachment work very closely with the Walpole Island Police Service. We wanted to be there to support in what is a very traumatic time for the community of Walpole Island, its officers, and the OPP from Petrolia," Boniface said. "For us, it's like losing one of our own."

As part of the celebration of Neudert's life, veteran OPP Const. Luke George, a member of the Kettle & Stoney Point First Nation, sang a travelling song at the gravesite. OPP Inspector Ron George said, "Every Aboriginal police officer across this country has surely grown in the wake of the sacrifice Const. Neudert and his family have made.

"Though the loss of this committed family man will be felt for a long time, there is an enhanced strength that will support and encourage us in so many ways. One of us has fallen, but he has left us with a profound sense of pride in ourselves."