Detective Sergeant Lorne Joseph Chapitis
Ontario Provincial Police
Ontario
End of Watch: Wednesday, December 11, 1968

Biographical Info
Age: 38
Tour of Duty: 17 years
Badge Number: 2130

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Wednesday, December 11, 1968
Weapon Used: Rifle
Suspect Info: Committed

Detective Sergeant Chapitis was stationed at Peterborough at the time of his death. Detective Sergeant Chapitis and Corporal James Smith were both shot while approaching a home where a woman complained to police that a man was threatening to shoot her and her son. They approached the suspect unarmed although he was holding a high powered deer hunting rifle. He said he wanted to talk to the police. When the officers were about 6 feet from the suspect he fired killing both policemen.

Two other officers at the scene apprehended the suspect. The suspect was found not guilty by reason of insanity and remains locked up in a mental institution.

Detective Sergeant Chapitis was with the OPP for 17 years.

Detective Sergeant Chapitis is survived by his wife and three children.

Related Line of Duty Deaths

Corporal James Smith Ontario Provincial Police, ON EOW: Wednesday, December 11, 1968 Cause of Death: Gunfire