Corporal Donald Robert Irwin
Ontario Provincial Police
Ontario
End of Watch: Friday, February 20, 1976

Biographical Info
Age: 39
Tour of Duty: 18 years
Badge Number: 1880

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Friday, February 20, 1976
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Executed

Corporal Irwin was on vacation in Florida with his wife and 3 children. He was visiting with his friend Officer Phillip Black of the Florida Highway Patrol. He had accompanied him on patrol on the evening of Feb 20th, 1976. He was unarmed. They were on routine patrol.

Officer Black stopped to check on a Camero that was in a rest area off the Interstate 95 Hwy. The occupant of the vehicle was in possession of an automatic weapon. Officer Black returned to his Patrol Car to call for back-up. Corporal Irwin accompanied Officer Black back to the suspect vehicle. At that time both officers were killed instantly.

The suspect took off in the patrol car and was later caught in a stolen Cadillac. The killer was condemned to execution. The execution was carried out on May 4, 1990.

Corporal Irwin had been with the OPP for 18 years.