Two Killam RCMP Officers shot outside of Sedgewick

Residents of Flagstaff County were shocked and stunned Tuesday afternoon when news broke of two RCMP officers being shot started trickling in.

At approximately 2 p.m., two officers from the Forestburg Killam Police Detachment responded to a scene between Sedgewick and Lougheed, just south of Highway 13. They were serving a warrant when the situation quickly spiraled out of control. The officers were shot and wounded in an exchange of gunfire.

The specific details are not yet known, but it has been confirmed that two officers have been shot. At this time their wounds are considered to be serious but not immediately life threatening. Names are being withheld at this time with respect to the families of those officers wounded at the scene.

Both were taken by ambulance to the Killam Hospital and from there, airlifted by two separate STARS helicopters to Edmonton hospitals. One to the Royal Alexandra Hospital, with the second being treated at the University of Alberta Hospital.

Police were cautioning bystanders at the scene to stay in their vehicles, and said there was a public safety issue at hand.

Unconfirmed reports say there are three to four suspects; one is reported to have been fatally wounded, one is said to be in police custody. Another is said to be fully armed and dangerous, as media members on the scene were pushed back near Highway 13 as a safety caution.

Following the incident, RCMP personnel have contained the residence and efforts are presently underway to ascertain whether or not other persons are still within the structure. RCMP personnel from five neighbouring detachments have surrounded the area. RCMP Emergency Response Teams (ERT) from Edmonton and Red Deer were called onto the scene. RCMP Air Services and K-Division were also brought in for active engagement.

The members of the Forestburg/Killam RCMP are well known and respected throughout the Flagstaff community, and much sympathy and concern about not only the downed officers, but the rest of the detachment has been pouring in to The Community Press.

“We’re a safe community, and when something like this happens it’s a shock,” said Killam Mayor Bud James. He said he hoped that everyone would keep the officers in their thoughts as they recover from the tragedy.

More to follow in the days to come. Full coverage in the February 14 edition.

Leslie Cholowsky, Editor