One police officer killed, two injured in Bourget

Travel Talk

Let the stunning gardens of Europe be your inspiration for your next quilting project!

Powerscourt Gardens, Ireland

by Brandon Mayer

An Ontario Provincial Police officer has been killed, and two others injured after being dispatched to a disturbance call at a home in the small village of Bourget, about an hour northeast of Kemptville. Sergeant Eric Mueller was the officer killed – he was a 21-year veteran of the police force who is being remembered as an “exemplary officer”.

The incident occurred on May 11 shortly after 2:00am when officers were dispatched to a home on Laval Street in Bourget where someone had reported hearing a gunshot. The three officers from the Russell County OPP Detachment who arrived at the scene, including Sergeant Mueller, were reportedly “ambushed” and all three suffered gunshot wounds.

Sergeant Mueller was transported to the hospital and died as a result of his injuries. Two other officers suffered gunshot wounds and have been treated at the hospital. As of the time of writing, one officer has been discharged while the other officer remains in the hospital in stable condition.

A 39-year-old man from Bourget has been charged with First Degree Murder, contrary to Section 235(1) and two counts of Attempted Murder, contrary to Section 239 (1) of the Criminal Code. The accused has been remanded in custody.

Officer Bill Dickson of the OPP confirmed for the Times that no one else was present in the home besides the accused shooter when the three officers arrived at the scene. Officer Dickson also confirmed that no one else was hurt, besides the officers.

Calls to the police regarding gunshots can sometimes happen more frequently during certain times of the year such as hunting season, but in general, such calls are rare. “Granted, at 2 o’clock in the morning… not the most common occurrence,” added Officer Dickson.

Although Officer Dickson was not able to comment on details such as any prior history with the police that the accused shooter may have had, or any presence of mental illness, he did confirm that “there was no reason to believe that this individual posed a danger to police.”

The Municipality of North Grenville released a short statement regarding the incident shortly after it was first reported. “This is a devastating development for our region and in particular, for the OPP community. On behalf of Council and the Municipality of North Grenville, we offer our sincere condolences to Sgt. Mueller’s family, friends, colleagues and fellow officers during this difficult time,” said Mayor Nancy Peckford. “We also wish the two other officers a quick recovery and are keeping them in our thoughts and hearts.”

“This is a tragic event, one that is very close to home. Most of us will never know the risk police officers take when they go to work each and every day,” emphasized Deputy Mayor John Barclay, who is also Chair of the North Grenville Police Services Board. “We honour Sgt. Eric Mueller who made the ultimate sacrifice in the name of public safety.”

Sgt. Eric Mueller worked as a Constable in Grenville County prior to transferring to Clarence-Rockland. North Grenville Municipal flags have been lowered to half-mast.

The OPP is asking everyone to respect the wishes of Sergeant Mueller’s family for privacy as they grieve. His family and OPP colleagues are being provided with assistance to work through this horrible incident. A procession was held on May 13 departing from the Ottawa Hospital General Campus and traveling along Highway 417 eastbound to Highway 174. Members of the public were invited to join First Responders in showing their respects.

Investigators, under the direction of the OPP Criminal Investigation Branch, want to hear from anyone who may have witnessed the incident or who may have video. They should contact the police at 1-888-310-1122 or, to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

Did you know that many quilters look to the beautiful colours in gardens as inspiration for their next quilting projects? We’ve put together a list of some of the most beautiful gardens in Europe to help you discover a path to where you’d like to explore.

1. Monet’s Garden, France is in the Giverny and Vernon region. Peak season is April – October to view these stunning gardens and the home of Monet. If you’re interested in viewing the famous beautiful water lilies, July and August is your best bet.

2. Jardins du Chateau de Versailles, France is a must see. The backdrop of the palace sets you up to view the beauty of not only the gardens, but the many paths, sculptures and fountains found on the grounds.

3. The Boboli Gardens, Italy can be found directly behind Pitti Palace and have been the inspiration of many Italian Garden Courts. With a vast green expanse, the gardens are a true outdoor museum piece with amazing statues, grottos and water features like the Fountain of Neptune.

4. Kew Gardens, London is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has something for everyone. Visit every corner of this beautiful place from the Arboretum to the Alpine Rock Garden and discover the over 50,000 plant species found here.

5. Keukenhof Gardens, Netherlands has been touted as one of the most beautiful gardens in the world. Planning is essential as these gardens are only open for a short time in April and May.

6. Royal Botanical Gardens, Scotland gives you the opportunity to see four beautiful gardens around the country that are home to some of the richest plant collections on earth.

7. Gordon Castle Walled Garden, Scotland is one of Scotland’s best kept secrets. An oasis of peace and tranquility, the garden is open year round.

8. Botanical Gardens (Dublin), Ireland are located just three kilometres from Dublin City Centre and are famous for their exquisitely restored historic glasshouses.

9. Powerscourt Gardens (County Wicklow), Ireland is an expansive 47 acre garden that was voted 3rd best in the world. Tour the formal gardens, sweeping terraces, statues and ornamental lakes on a rambling walk. All of these gardens will take your breath away and provide inspiration for any of your creative outlets, whether that be quilting, painting, photography and so much more.

Speak to your travel professional at Gravitate Travel about how they can help you be inspired to visit and explore the Gardens of Europe. Group trips are also available like our Seams of Green Custom Tour to Ireland that we created for the Kemptville Quilters Guild.

When you’re ready, we can assist you in making all the right travel choices. Go to www.gravitate.travel and click on the Let’s Talk icon on the top right hand side.

TICO # 50026003 709 RIDEAU STREET, UNIT 2 / KEMPTVILLE, ON K0G 1J0