Officer from Yonge St. attack honoured at Blue Jays game
The last time we saw him, Const. Ken Lam was facing down a man pointing a black object at him which could have been a gun.
Aman who’d allegedly mowed down pedestrians on Yonge St., steering his van onto the sidewalk. Ten innocent people killed in the rampage, 16 injured.
Cellphone video captured Lam in that heart-thumping standoff with the suspect, who appeared to dare the cop to shoot him. Lam did not. It was a remarkable display of cool and calm under pressure, the officer walking towards the suspect, lowering him to the ground and snapping cuffs on his wrists.
Not a word has been heard from Lam since — though it’s known the seven-year career officer reported for roll call at 6 a.m. the next day.
Had trouble sleeping, said deputy police chief Peter Yuen. Little wonder. But there Lam was on Sunday, Canada Day, in uniform and on the field at the Rogers Centre.
A standing ovation from the crowd, at least those paying attention to the introductions, on an afternoon when the franchise paid tribute to the 13 officers who were first to arrive at the scene of the Yonge St. tragedy and members of the Canadian Forces.
Together with Lieut.- Gen. Mike Rouleau, commander of Canadian Joint Force Opera- tion Command, Lam threw out the ceremonial opening pitch in Toronto’s game against the Detroit Tigers.
Still not talking — as Lam cannot because he’ll be a key trial witness eventually — but smiling widely, so wide you could practically see the back of his teeth.
Lam, 47, was born in Toronto, son of a former Hong Kong cop who now runs a restaurant in Markham.
Lam spent 14 years as an engineer before switching to law enforcement.
Following the April incident, Yuen said of Lam: “The public has bestowed on him the hero status. He doesn’t want it. But he is very appreciative.”
Right man. Right place. Right time.