The Town of Innisfil is planning an unveiling of a new sign as part of the renaming of the Morgan Russell Arena and Community Centre on Tuesday morning.
The unveiling will happen at 10:30 a.m. and include the family of Const. Morgan Russell, council members from the towns of Innisfil and Bradford West Gwillimbury, among others.
“Our community is still shocked and saddened with the tragic passing of both Const. Morgan Russell and Const. Devon Northrup in the line of duty last fall,” says Mayor Lynn Dollin. “Town council proposed changing the name of the former South Innisfil Community Centre in Lefroy to honour Morgan.
"Morgan spent a lot of time at the arena in his youth and although it doesn’t erase the pain we all feel, it is certainly a fitting tribute to his incredible commitment to our community as a police officer," she added.
Russell, 54, and Northrup, 33, were killed in the line of duty after responding to a disturbance call on Oct. 11, 2022 at an Alcona home in the area of 25th Sideroad and 9th Line. The investigation determined the officers were shot at the front door of the home by a 22-year-old man wearing a bulletproof vest who had "ambushed" them from the basement, according to the final report from the Special Investigation Unit (SIU).
