Ottawa Police Service Mourns the Loss of Sgt. Robert Cleroux
Sgt. Robert Cleroux of the Ottawa Police Service died by suicide on Friday evening, marking a tragic loss for the community and the police force. Cleroux, who served with the Ottawa Police for approximately 28 years, is survived by his wife and two children.
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is investigating Cleroux’s death to ensure an impartial review, as it is standard practice to avoid OPS members investigating their own. The circumstances surrounding his death are not believed to be suspicious.
Cleroux had recently been off work and was serving as an acting staff sergeant in the south end neighbourhood division. His colleagues remembered him fondly, with Matthew Cox, president of the Ottawa Police Association, stating, “He was one of those guys that you knew would always be there to have your back.”
The Ottawa Police Service expressed their condolences, stating, “This is difficult news for our service.” The department also acknowledged Cleroux’s significant contributions to community programs, highlighting his dedication to improving local initiatives.
Councillor Stéphanie Plante described Cleroux as a “very special human,” noting that without his involvement, many important projects would not have been realized. His commitment to community service left a lasting impact on those he worked with and served.
In light of this tragedy, Cox emphasized the need for open discussions about mental health and suicide within the policing profession, stating, “We need to start to normalize [discussion of] suicide as it is something that does happen and it does unfortunately happen a lot in the profession of policing.”
As the investigation continues, the Ottawa community reflects on the legacy of Sgt. Robert Cleroux, who was affectionately known as ‘Bobby’ among his colleagues. Details remain unconfirmed regarding the specific circumstances leading up to his death.
