Victim was a sergeant-investigator
A Quebec provincial police officer from Gatineau died after a collision in the Côte-Nord region while on duty, prompting condolences from police services and political leaders across the province.
The Sûreté du Québec (SQ) said Sgt. Anaïs Fortin-Cozzens died in hospital following a collision on Route 138 in Portneuf-sur-Mer on Tuesday, March. The community is about 300 kilometres north of Quebec City, according to CTV News.
In a statement posted on its website, the SQ said Fortin-Cozzens was a sergeant-investigator with the Major Crimes Investigation Division in Gatineau, according to the report.
The force adds: “We offer our deepest condolences to Sergeant Investigator Fortin‑Cozzens’s spouse, children, family members, and colleagues.”
Police services in Gatineau and Ottawa respond
Gatineau police issued a statement Tuesday offering condolences to the SQ and to the officer’s family. “Our hearts are with our brothers and sisters of the Sûreté du Québec, as well as the relatives of the investigator Fortin-Cozzens, and we offer them our most sincere condolences,” the service said in a Facebook post, translated from French.
“In these difficult times, please know that we stand with you. The Police Department of the City of Gatineau stands by you,” the statement added.
The SQ has also provided a dedicated e‑mail channel for condolences and directed the public to the Police and Peace Officers’ Memorial Ribbon Society for mourning ribbons, signalling that it is treating this as a formal line‑of‑duty fatality of province‑wide significance.
The Ottawa Police Service also expressed sympathy on social media, saying it was deeply saddened to learn of Fortin-Cozzens’s death, according to CTV News. “On behalf of the Ottawa Police Service, we extend our heartfelt condolences to the officer’s family, friends, and all members of the Sûreté du Québec. We stand with our policing partners during this difficult time and honour the officer’s service, dedication, and sacrifice to her community,” Ottawa police said.
The collision occurred while Fortin-Cozzens was working. The SQ has not released further details about the circumstances of the crash, and funeral arrangements for the officer had not yet been announced at the time of the CTV News report.
