HUNTER: Blue tears honour murdered OPP Const. Tarun Bali
· Toronto Sun
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Even for the religiously disinclined, it was impossible not to draw some parallels between the weeping rain and the funeral of OPP Const. Tarun Bali.
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Hundreds of cops marched under a Canadian flag in a funeral procession for Bali in Mississauga on Thursday, undeterred by the sheets of rain making a sombre occasion considerably darker.
Bali, 29, was allegedly murdered last week when he was struck and killed in remote Hearst as cops attempted to stop Justin Veronneau, 18, of Hearst who escaped a local hospital. At the time, police say Veronneau was being assessed under the Mental Health Act.
Charged with first-degree murder
He is now charged with first-degree murder.
Brampton native Bali — normally stationed at the Orangeville detachment — was on secondment to the James Bay Detachment when he was killed. Accepting the assignment was typical of Bali’s courage and selflessness.
Again and again during the service at the Mississauga Sports and Entertainment Centre, those words were repeated to the point they almost became a mantra for the hundreds attending the service.
Among those in attendance were Premier Doug Ford and Lieutenant Governor Edith Dumont.
“Tarun Bali was a man who put others before himself and who led by example, no matter the risk. We can see that reflected in the days and hours leading up to his death, when he showed compassion and bravery, despite the risk to himself,” Ford told the sea of blue.
‘He legacy will live on’
“While we can never properly repay the debt of gratitude that this province owes them, Provincial Constable Bali will always be remembered as the hero he was, and his legacy will live on forever.”
In addition to his OPP career, Bali also volunteered his time with Peel Victim Services and was an enthusiastic supporter of Indian music. His family immigrated to Canada in 2005.
And since he was a kid, Bali wanted to be a cop.
OPP Commissioner Thomas Carrique told the packed arena that Bali was the 107th officer killed in the line of duty since the provincial police force was founded in 1909. He noted that more than 15 cops have been murdered in Canada since 2020.
Calling Bali a “selfless guardian of justice,” the OPP top cop said the system needs to start protecting the innocent.
“As we stood outside of this arena and the skies opened up, the rain came down, the sound of thunder and lightning around us, I would venture to guess that if any of us were standing out there alone, we may have sought shelter,” Carrique said.
“But the fact that we were together, we stood strong, and we awaited the arrival of Provincial Constable Bali. And as you sit uncomfortable in your wet clothing, I know that you will find comfort that we are all in this together.”
The building was festooned with pictures of the fallen officer with signs reading “Hero In Life.”
If the citizens of the province were devastated by the death of the remarkable young officer, the pain is even more acutely felt by his family, colleagues, friends, but mostly his wife, Komal Sharma Bali. Fighting back tears, she called her husband the love of her life.
“Thank you for choosing me and loving me so much, so much. It has been an honour, and it will continue to be an honour to be your wife,” she said. “No amount of time would ever have been enough, truly, but I will cherish every moment we shared.
“You are my greatest blessing, my best friend, the love of my life. I love you with my whole heart. Until we meet again, I hope you rest peacefully.”
Sharma Bali also thanked the policing family for their support during the dark days.
Tarun Bali was the first police officer killed this month. Toronto Police Const. Marc Pinizzotto was shot and killed last week while serving a warrant to multiple shootings that targeted synagogues and the U.S. Consulate.