Two fallen GTA police officers had their names and badge numbers emblazoned on the backs of Toronto Blue Jays’ jerseys in a ceremony to honour them prior to the start of a game with the New York Yankees on Friday.
Signed by the team, the jerseys were presented to the families of Toronto police Sgt. Ryan Russell and York Regional Police Const. Garrett Styles.
Toronto pitcher Ricky Romero posed for a picture with Russell’s wife Christine, son Nolan and the signed jersey.
“I think it’s really great that [the] Toronto Blue Jays decided to do this and pay respects to both fallen officers,” she said.
She added that her husband loved every sport and that she is grateful for the support she has received.
Melissa Styles and her two young children were also at the event, as were Toronto police Chief Bill Blair and York Regional Police Chief Eric Jolliffe.
The names of the police officers were lit up in the upper deck of the Rogers Centre.
The York Regional Police Colour Guard led the ceremony. Their flags were gently blown by the evening breeze.
“Policing is a large family and when one of our members falls we like to support not only their family but all the other brothers and sister in policing,” said Det. Const. James Waugh of the Colour Guard.
Russell was killed in January when he was struck by a stolen snow plow. Styles was killed when he was dragged and pinned under a van during a traffic stop in June.