David Wynn, RCMP officer shot in Alta., worked as N.S. paramedic

Bridgewater Police are offering their love and support to RCMP Const. David Wynn, who was gravely wounded in a shooting in St. Albert, Alta., Saturday.

Wynn worked as a paramedic in Bridgewater, N.S., for years.

"When he made the decision to switch careers and join the RCMP, we supported him," said a message on the Bridgewater Police Services Facebook page.

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Wynn, 42, was shot while confronting a suspect about a stolen vehicle found near the casino in St. Albert. He remains in hospital in grave condition.

Aux. Const. Derek Bond was also shot, but he has since been released from hospital.

Ismael Aquino, Nova Scotia provincial director of the Canadian Red Cross, knew Wynn in the 1990s when he worked with the Red Cross in Bridgewater.

"He was always a nice and wonderful supporter and volunteer and I think one of the biggest memories I have is when he called us as the paramedic supervisor from Bridgewater the night Swissair Flight 111 took place and he called me at home to activate our emergency response vehicle to respond to any survivors from Swissair 111," he said.

'One of the nicest guys I knew'

Aquino remembers his time working with Wynn fondly. 

"He was always a great guy to work with," he said.

"It was certainly a bit of a shock and our hearts go out to David's family and to David."

Aquino remembers Wynn's passion for the job.

"[Wynn is] just one of the nicest guys I knew. He was very committed to anything he gets involved with, and in this case he was very passionate about first aid training and CPR training and that sort of would have led him to become a paramedic. What he's doing now is just another extension of what he had passion for."

RCMP 'a lifelong dream' for Wynn

Michael Conklin, who lives in Bridgewater, coached Wynn's son in Bridgewater's minor hockey association. He said Wynn was actively involved in of his sons's minor hockey activities.

"I remember sitting in a board meeting for Bridgewater Minor Hockey and at the time David was out ice coordinator … and he said at that time it had been a lifelong dream of his to become a member of the RCMP and he finally got accepted into the force," said Conklin.

"We're all pulling for David here in Bridgewater and the rest of Nova Scotia. Being a paramedic and being a volunteer here in Bridgewater, David came in contact and touched the lives of many people in very positive ways. We'd love to see him have a full recovery and have him visit us in Bridgewater soon."

"Today's events have greatly saddened all of our members. Our love and support go out to his family, friends and colleagues with the RCMP and EHS tonight," wrote Bridgewater Police. 

Wynn's former employer, Emergency Medical Care Inc., is also offering support. 

"Our thoughts and prayers remain with both officers, fellow first responders and the officers's family," wrote spokesperson Stacey Brown in an email. 

Mark Furey, provincial minister of municipal affairs in Nova Scotia, knew Wynn professionally.

"He was highly respected in his profession, both by his colleagues and other emergency service providers, who would engage Dave and his attendance to any number of scenes," said Furey.

"On a personal side, I knew of him. I knew he was highly respected and well liked in the community. A broad social network of friends, that extended out beyond his colleagues."

The suspect in the shooting was found dead in a nearby home on Saturday.