Quebec mourns death of Lac-Simon police officer

A Quebecpolice officerwho was killed on the weekend while responding to a domestic issue at a home is being mourned around the province, as theMinistry of Public Securityand provincial police investigate the incident.

Thierry LeRoux, 26,was shot and killed as he and his partner responded to a call about a domestic dispute in the Algonquincommunity of Lac-Simon,nearVal-d'Or, about 500 kilometres northwest of Montreal.

"The most important way I can pay tribute to him is to say there is no greater sacrifice than giving your life to help others. It's what he wanted to do, and it's what he did," said Michel LeRoux, Thierry's father.

LeRoux said his son always dreamedof being a police officer.

"When he signed up for police tech at College Alma, we had a conversation about the risks involved in becoming a police officer. But after that discussion, we never talked about it again."

ThierryLeRoux, a native of Amos, Que.,had been working in the community for only six months with the local aboriginal police force.This was his second contract.

Michel LeRoux said he hopes there is a lesson to be learned so that no one has to die the way his son did.

• Slain Quebec police officer, 26, joined force 6 months ago

The officer's death shockedstudents and staff at College Alma.

SergeGirard, the director of the college's police technology program, said,"Thierry was very sociable, very open, very involved during his three years in the program."

Heshowed leadership skills as well, Girard said.

Police say one shot was fired from the home on Saturday night, killingLeRouxand sending his partner to hospital to be treated for shock.

LeRouxand his partner were officers with the local aboriginal police force inLac-Simon,an Algonquin reservenearVal-d'Or, about 500 kilometres from Montreal in the province'sAbitibiregion.

Investigators say the gunman was 22-year-old Joseph Anthony Raymond-Papatie, who killedhimself.

School prepared to review training

LeRoux went on to study at Quebec's provincialpolice academy at Nicolet, graduating in 2013.

The collegehas lowered its flags to half-mast to commemorate LeRoux's death.

"He was a great police officer," Pierre Saint-Antoine, director of communications for the college, said Monday.

Saint-Antoine says studentsare trained to deal with different situations.

The college will set up a committee to review and possibly modify police training as investigators learn more about what happened in Lac-Simon, he said.

"It's a moment of reflection for everyone to make sure youact with security, but you never know what can happen with this kind of intervention," Saint-Antoine said.

There are fewer open positions withQuebecpolice forces for new graduates due to provincial budget cuts, said Saint-Antoine. As a result, many students apply to work in First Nations communities.

"We have less promises to be hired from the regular police service inQuebec so some graduatesdo apply to aboriginal police services," Saint-Antoine said.

Students do not receive specific training for working in First Nations communities other than trainingin both English and French.

TheSret du Qubec took over the investigation on Sunday.UnderQuebec law,any incident involvinga police officer in which a firearm is discharged must be investigated by a different police force.

'Shaken by this horrible news'

The Canadian Union of Public Employees said in a statement that LeRouxhadbeen a member of the police force since August, employed by the Anishnabe Nation Tribal Council.

"We are shaken by this horrible news," CUPE spokesman Stphane Lachance wrote.

"We offer our most sincere condolences to Thierry's family and loved ones."

Federal Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodaleissued a statement Monday, offering his condolences toLeRoux'sfamily.

"As a nation, we stand together with the police officers and citizens ofLac-Simonduring this difficult time. We are truly grateful for their dedication and sacrifice,"Goodalewrote.

Quebec Premier Philippe Couillardsaid on Twitterthat QuebecAboriginal Affairs Minister Geoffrey Kelley was in contact with community leaders.

Members of thereserveheld a march on Sunday afternoonto mourn the death of theofficer, as well as the man whoshot him.