The body of an Ontario Provincial Police sergeant who died in a highway crash east of Toronto this week will be taken to Oshawa this afternoon ahead of his funeral.
Sgt. Brandon Malcolm died while on duty on Monday after a single-vehicle collision involving a motorcycle on Highway 401 in Cobourg. He was just 33 years old and had been proudly serving with the Ontario Provincial Police force since 2020.
The Ontario Provincial Police says in a news release that the procession will depart the Centre of Forensic Sciences in Toronto and head east on Highway 401 to Oshawa. It says those who wish to show their support can gather on one of the highway overpasses along the route or sign an online book of condolence.
Police say funeral arrangements for the fallen OPP sergeant are still in their early stages and more details will be shared with the public in the coming days.
OPP Commissioner Thomas Carrique said Monday night that Malcolm joined the OPP in 2020 and was also a member of the force precision motorcycle team, the Golden Helmets. The commissioner described Malcolm as a dedicated officer who served his community with pride and distinction throughout his five-year career with the provincial force.
The procession route will take the officer remains along the Highway 401 corridor, giving residents across Durham Region and beyond an opportunity to pay their respects as the motorcade passes through. Overpasses along the route are expected to draw crowds of supporters, first responders and community members wanting to honour the fallen officer.
Malcolm death has sent shockwaves through the law enforcement community across Ontario. Tributes have poured in from police services, political leaders and community members who have expressed their condolences to the officer family, friends and colleagues during this difficult time. Flags at OPP detachments across the province have been lowered to half-mast in his honour.
The OPP is asking anyone who gathers along the procession route to do so safely and respectfully, parking only in designated areas and avoiding the highway shoulder or travel lanes. Drivers should expect delays along the Highway 401 corridor during the procession Wednesday afternoon.
The Cobourg crash remains under investigation by the OPP collision reconstruction team. Cobourg is located approximately 60 kilometres east of Oshawa along the Highway 401 corridor, and the OPP sergeant funeral procession has resonated deeply with Durham Region residents, many of whom travel that stretch of highway daily.
Condolences can also be shared through the OPP online book of condolence, which has been set up to allow Canadians across the country to honour Malcolm service and sacrifice. The OPP has not yet announced the date and location of the funeral service, but says details will be shared publicly once arrangements are finalized.
As the Durham community mourns the loss of one of Ontario finest, the OPP sergeant funeral procession through Oshawa will serve as a powerful reminder of the risks that police officers face every day while keeping Ontario roads and communities safe.
