Saskatchewan RCMP officer killed while on-duty

Tragedy unfolded on Saturday, June 12 for the Saskatchewan RCMP.

While responding to the call of duty, Constable. Shelby Patton of the Indian Head RCMP Detachment, lost his life.

26-year-old Constable Patton worked at the Indian Head Detachment since 2015, the entirety of his six years and four months of service with the RCMP. Before officially beginning his duties at the Indian Head Detachment, he was on assignment at Parliament Hill in February and March of 2015.

Constable Shelby Patton was killed at around 8:00 a.m. on June 12, while following two suspects who were driving a stolen vehicle, a truck, from Manitoba.

Constable Patton initiated a traffic stop with the truck in the town of Wolseley. During the course of the stop, while outside of his police vehicle, Constable Patton was struck and killed by the truck.

Sadly, Constable Patton died at the scene.

The truck then left the scene and was later located in a rural area northeast of Francis, Saskatchewan.

Two suspects, an adult male and adult female, were located and arrested with the assistance of RCMP Police Dog Services in a field in this vicinity just before 10:00 a.m. Saturday. Both suspects remain in police custody.

41-year-old Alphonse Stanley Traverse and 42-year-old Marlene Velma Louise Pagee, from Winnipeg, Manitoba, have been charged with:

• Manslaughter, Section 236(b) of the Criminal Code;

• Failure to stop after an accident resulting in death, Section 320.16(3) of the Criminal Code;

• Theft of a motor vehicle, Section 333.1(1) of the Criminal Code;

• Possession of stolen property over $5000, Section 354(1) of the Criminal Code.

Traverse has also been charged with Breach of undertaking – Leaving the Province of Manitoba, Section 145(4) of the Criminal Code.

Pagee has also been charged with Possession of a controlled substance, Section 4(1) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and Breach of undertaking – Possession of controlled substance, Section 145(4) of the Criminal Code.

“We have received an outpouring of support and condolence messages in person, in writing and on social media from across Canada and beyond. These messages help us through this difficult time. I would like to thank everyone who took the time to let us know they share our grief,” said Assistant-Commissioner Rhonda Blackmore, Commanding Officer of the Saskatchewan RCMP.

The investigation into the death of Constable Shelby Patton continues.