Retired police sergeant dies after head-on collision in Nanaimo
Retired Sgt. Shinder Kirk was a police spokesperson during active gang violence
A former police spokesperson for the Abbotsford Police Department has been killed in a head-on crash in Nanaimo.
Retired Sgt. Shinder Kirk died after a vehicle collision in Nanaimo, Abbotsford Police Department have confirmed.
Kirk worked as a spokesperson for Abbotsford police, as well as the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of B.C. and the Vancouver-based Integrated Gang Task Force.
He spoke often to the media about gang violence in the Lower Mainland.
Our sincerest and heartfelt condolences to the family, friends & colleagues of retired <a href="https://twitter.com/AbbyPoliceDept?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AbbyPoliceDept</a>, Sgt. Shinder Kirk. We are thinking of you.
—@RidgeRCMPMy heart is with everyone grieving the loss of retired Abbotsford police officer Shinder Kirk. He was a warm & caring man, dedicated to fighting gang violence, & a much admired leader in the South Asian community. My condolences to his family, friends & Abbotsford Police force.
—@jjhorganB.C. public safety minister Mike Farnworth said Kirk will be remembered as a respected professional who took his job seriously and cared deeply for his community.
"His loss is a tragedy not just for those who knew him and his family, but for the policing community as a whole," said Farnworth.
Premier John Horgan also offered words of condolence over social media on Sunday.
Nanaimo RCMP responded to the crash on Cedar Road near the Cedar Bridge at around 1:49 p.m. PT Saturday. According to police, two pickup trucks had collided head-on.
Officers confirmed the driver of one truck died and two passengers in the same vehicle were flown to hospital with injuries.
Abbotsford police identified Kirk as the deceased driver.
According to officials, no one from the second vehicle was injured.