Lake Strongquill named in honour of gunned-down Manitoba Mountie

Manitoba has named alake near Flin Flonafter RCMP Const. Dennis Strongquillthe first time a geographic location in the provincehas been named after a law enforcement officer.

"AllManitobansremember the tragic loss of Const.Strongquill,and it is truly our honour to permanently create a place that will recognize his life and ultimate sacrifice," Conservation and Water Stewardship Minister Tom Nevakshonoff saidMonday during the announcementat theRCMPheadquarters in Winnipeg.

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The lake is about 45 kilometres north ofFlinFloninnorthern Manitoba.

"Const. Strongquill dedicated his life to protecting the people of Manitoba and making our communities safer. The naming of Lake Strongquill is a humbling honour and will ensure that his sacrifice is never forgotten," said RCMP Assistant Commissioner Kevin Brosseau.

Killed in line of duty

A 20-year veteran of the police force, Strongquill was shot dead after a traffic stop outside Russell, Man.

Strongquill, 52, and his partner,Const. Brian Auger, were heading fora coffeejust after midnight on Dec. 21, 2001, when they spotted a truck driving on the highway with its highbeamson.

They pulled it over simply tocaution the driver to turn down the headlights. But as they approached the truck, one of the people inside opened fire. The officers ran back to their vehicle and were chasedinto the town of Russell by the truck.

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As theRCMP cruiser pulled up to thedetachment office, it was rammed by the truck. Auger escaped into the detachment butStrongquillwas trapped.

Unable to shoot due to a malfunction with his gun,Strongquillwas shot four timeswith a sawed-off shotgun.

The truck, with three people from Alberta inside, then sped off. A 14-hour manhunt for the suspects ended in gunfireat a motel nearWolseley, Sask., about 100 kilometres east of Regina.

The RCMP emergency response team shot and killed one person.The two others, Robert Sandand Laurie Anne Bell, surrendered to police and were arrested. Bell was eventually convicted of manslaughter, while Sand was convicted of first-degree murder.