A defibrillator has been donated to a Barrie public school to honour a Peel Regional Police officer who died in the line of duty.
James Ochakovsky died almost five years ago, and on Monday, his son Owen Ochakovsky taught his grade three class at Mapleview Heights Public School what a defibrillator does.
“If someone has their heart stopped then they can put the pads on their chest and then it can shock them,” Ochakovsky explained.
The donation was made by the Dave Mounsey Memorial Fund.
Mounsey was an OPP constable who also died in the line of duty in 2006.
Just before he passed away, Mounsey raised money to donate several defibrillators – the foundation is carrying on his work.
“Myself and like-minded people put together this fund so we could carry on his last act of kindness and donate defibrillators in the name of fallen law enforcement, fire, EMS, and military persons,” says foundation spokesperson Patrick Armstrong.
This is the 38th defibrillator that has been donated.
When Ochakovsky and his family was approached, he thought his school would be the perfect place to honour his dad.
“Owen has never been able to have his dad walk him to school or bring him to school because he was three when James was killed,” said Erin Ochakovsky, Owen’s mother. “He chose his school so he could have a little piece of James there, and he could have a little piece of his dad like a lot of the other kids get to have. People say it gets easier; it doesn't get easier. You learn how to live with it. It's not an easy way to live.”
James’ colleagues remember him as a hard-working officer, and a man who loved his family.
“Even though you know Owen was three at the time, there was a tremendous connection between them,” said Peel Regional Police Const. Paul Dhillon. “You can see this almost five years later. You can see that connection will last forever.”
