July 5, 2022

Winnipeg
19° C, Partly cloudy

Full Forecast

Contact Us Subscribe Manage Subscription Chat with us
Log in Create Free Account Help Chat with us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertising Contact
    • Submit a News Tip
    • Subscribe to Newsletters

    • Finding your
      information

    • My Account
    • Manage my Subscription
    • Change Password

    • Grid View
    • List View
    • Compact View
    • Text Size
    • Translate

    • Log Out
    • Log in
    • Create Free Account
    • Help

    • Grid View
    • List View
    • Compact View
    • Text Size
    • Translate
  • Coronavirus Coverage
  • Replica E-Edition
    • About the E-Edition
    • Winnipeg Free Press
    • Community Review East
    • Community Review West
  • Above the Fold
  • Front page
  • Arts & Life
    • All Arts & Life
    • The Arts
    • Autos
    • Books
    • Book Club
    • Cannabis
    • Celebrities
    • Diversions
    • Puzzles
    • Environment
    • Events
    • Faith
    • Food & Drink
    • Your Health
    • Life & Style
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Science & Technology
    • TV
    • Travel
  • Business
    • All Business
    • Agriculture
    • Personal Finance
    • Manitoba's Top Employers
  • Canada
  • Local
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Columnists
    • Editorials
    • Editorial Cartoons
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Send a Letter to the Editor
  • Sports
    • All Sports
    • Amateur
    • Auto Racing
    • Blue Bombers
    • Curling
    • Football
    • Goldeyes
    • Golf
    • High School
    • Hockey
    • Horse Racing
    • Winnipeg Jets
    • Manitoba Moose
    • WHL
    • MLB
    • NBA
    • Olympics
    • Soccer
  • World
  • Reader BridgeNEW
  • WFP EventsNEW
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Advertising
    • Contact Us
    • Carrier Positions & Retailer Requests
    • FP Newspapers Inc.
    • History
    • Internships
    • Job Opportunities
    • News Café
    • Privacy Policy
    • Retail Locations
    • Staff Biographies
    • Terms and Conditions
  • Archives
  • Free Press Community Review
    • All Free Press Community Review News
    • East Edition
    • West Edition
    • Sports
    • Events
    • Contact Us
    • E-Editions
  • Classifieds
  • Contests
  • Coupons
    • All Coupons
    • Staples Copy & Print Coupons
    • Ripley's Aquariums Coupons
    • The Bay Coupons
    • Staples Canada Coupons
    • Altitude Sports Coupons
    • Nike Coupons
    • Tuango Coupons
    • Ebay Canada Coupons
    • Sport Chek Coupons
    • Roots Coupons
  • LifestylesNEW
    • All Lifestyles
    • Business Hub
    • Community
    • Drink & Dine
    • Life
    • Wellness
    • Whiskers & Wings
    • Sponsored Articles
  • Homes
    • Property Listings
    • Featured News
    • Renovation and design
    • New homes
    • Resale homes
  • Newsletters
  • Obituaries
  • Puzzles
  • Photo and Book store
  • More

©2022 FP Newspaper Inc.

Close
  • Quick Links

    • Coronavirus Coverage
    • Federal Election
    • Above the Fold
    • Home
    • Local
    • Canada
    • World
    • Classifieds
    • Special Coverage
    • Newsletters
    • Obituaries
    • Photo and Book store
    • Archives
    • Contests
    • Publications
    • Sponsored Content
    • Privacy Policy

    Ways to support us

    • Pay it Forward program
    • Subscribe
    • Support Faith coverage
    • Support Arts coverage
  • Replica E-Edition

    • About the E-Edition
    • Winnipeg Free Press
    • Community Review East
    • Community Review West

    Business

    • All Business
    • Agriculture
    • Personal Finance
  • Arts & Life

    • All Arts & Life
    • The Arts
    • Autos
    • Books
    • Cannabis
    • Celebrities
    • Diversions
    • Puzzles
    • Environment
    • Events
    • Faith
    • Food & Drink
    • Your Health
    • Life & Style
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Science & Technology
    • TV
    • Travel
  • Sports

    • All Sports
    • Amateur
    • Auto Racing
    • Blue Bombers
    • Curling
    • Football
    • Goldeyes
    • Golf
    • High School
    • Hockey
    • Horse Racing
    • Winnipeg Jets
    • Manitoba Moose
    • WHL
    • MLB
    • NBA
    • Olympics
    • Soccer
  • Opinion

    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Columnists
    • Editorials
    • Editorial Cartoons
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Send a Letter to the Editor

    Media

    • All Media
    • Photo Galleries
    • Videos

    Homes

    • Property Listings
    • Featured News
    • Renovation and design
    • New homes
    • Resale homes
  • Canstar Community News

    • All Free Press Community Review News
    • East Edition
    • West Edition
    • Sports
    • Events
    • Contact Us
    • E-Editions
  • Coupons

    • All Coupons
    • Staples Copy & Print Coupons
    • Ripley's Aquariums Coupons
    • The Bay Coupons
    • Staples Canada Coupons
    • Altitude Sports Coupons
    • Nike Coupons
    • Tuango Coupons
    • Ebay Canada Coupons
    • Sport Chek Coupons
    • Roots Coupons
  • About Us

    • About Us
    • Advertising
    • Contact Us
    • Carrier Positions & Retailer Requests
    • FP Newspapers Inc.
    • History
    • Internships
    • Job Opportunities
    • News Café
    • Privacy Policy
    • Retail Locations
    • Staff Biographies
    • Terms and Conditions
The Free Press
Articles Read
Your Balance +tax
Day Pass Till
Day Pass
    • Contact Us
    • Advertising Contact
    • Report an Error
    • Send a Letter to the Editor
    • Staff Biographies
    • Submit a News Tip
    • Subscribe to Newsletters

    • Finding your
      information

    • Log in
    • Create Account
    • Help
    • Chat with us

    • Grid View
    • List View
    • Compact View
    • Text Size
    • Translate
    • My Account
    • Manage My Subscription
    • Change Password
    • Chat with us

    • Grid View
    • List View
    • Compact View
    • Text Size
    • Translate

    • Log Out
Log in Create Account Contact Us
Contact Us Manage Subscription
  • Sections
  • Local
  • Arts & Life
    • All Arts & Life
    • The Arts
    • Autos
    • Books
    • Diversions
    • Environment
    • Faith
    • Food & Drink
    • Health
    • Movies
    • Music
    • TV
    • Travel
  • Business
    • All Business
    • Agriculture
    • Personal Finance
    • Manitoba's Top Employers
  • Sports
    • All Sports
    • Amateur
    • Blue Bombers
    • Curling
    • Football
    • Goldeyes
    • High School
    • Hockey
    • Winnipeg Jets
    • Manitoba Moose
    • WHL
    • MLB
    • NBA
    • Soccer
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Columnists
    • Editorials
    • Editorial Cartoons
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Send a Letter to the Editor
  • E-Edition
  • Homes
  • Classifieds
    • All Classifieds
    • Announcements
    • Automotive
    • Careers
    • Garage Sales
    • Merchandise
    • Pets
    • Real Estate
    • Rentals
    • Services
  • Lifestyles
    • Business Hub
    • Community
    • Drink & Dine
    • Life
    • Manitoba’s Top Employers
    • Wellness
    • Whiskers & Wings
    • Sponsored Articles
  • Coupons
    • All Coupons
    • Staples Copy & Print
    • Ripley's Aquariums
    • The Bay
    • Staples Canada
    • Altitude Sports
    • Nike
    • Tuango
    • Ebay Canada
    • Sport Chek
    • Roots
  • Obituaries
  • Subscribe$1.50 for 5 months
Home Local

Advertisement

Advertise With Us

Slain toddler designated as honorary police constable, remembered as warrior

Katie May By: Katie May
Posted: 4:16 PM CST Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019
Last Modified: 10:23 PM CST Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019 | Updates

  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Print
  • Email
  • Save to Read Later

A slain three-year-old boy who was stabbed inside a North End home late last month has been designated an honorary constable with the Winnipeg Police Service.

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 9/11/2019 (968 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A slain three-year-old boy who was stabbed inside a North End home late last month has been designated an honorary constable with the Winnipeg Police Service.

Hunter Haze Straight-Smith wanted to be a police officer fighting "bad guys," the toddler would tell his friends. After his short life ended, his dream was realized: police officers asked his family for permission to recognize "Cst. Hunter" at his funeral service Friday night.

Winnipeg Police Service Chief Danny Smyth signed a certificate designating Hunter Straight-Smith as an honorary constable. (Supplied photo)</p>

Winnipeg Police Service Chief Danny Smyth signed a certificate designating Hunter Straight-Smith as an honorary constable. (Supplied photo)

Const. Shawn Smith, an officer with the WPS’s Indigenous Partnership Section, and Staff Sgt. Bob Chrismas, with the community support division, gave Hunter’s family a certificate signed by police chief Danny Smyth and a shadow box Smith made using brass insignia from a police uniform. In law enforcement circles, shadow boxes that contain badges and other artifacts are traditionally included in memorials or retirement services.

"A few days ago, I spoke with a family friend to get a sense of Hunter, as I did not have the pleasure of meeting him. The family friend expressed that little Hunter made it no secret to all his friends and family that he wanted to be a police officer, and wanted to catch ‘bad guys.’ When hearing this about little Hunter — a child’s vow to be a peacekeeper and what chasing ‘bad guys’ represents (to be a good person, to do what’s right, to walk an honourable path) — is a testament to his character and spirit, both things that we can all learn from," Smith wrote in an email Saturday.

"Hunter truly is Ogichidaa (warrior), and it was essential to acknowledge him as such on behalf of all police officers – especially those members and first responders that were with little Hunter in his time of need."

Hunter was stabbed repeatedly overnight on Oct. 30 and died in hospital Nov. 2 after he was taken off life support. His mother’s ex-boyfriend, 33-year-old Daniel Jensen, has been charged with second-degree murder in his death. Jensen is accused of fighting with Hunter’s mother, Clarice Smith, at a Main Street location, assaulting her, and then going to the Pritchard Avenue home where Hunter was likely sleeping and attacking him.

Hunter died during an eruption of recent violence in Winnipeg and his death has prompted pleas for change. Community members mourning the loss of the little boy have attended anti-violence vigils and rallies in the city and have amplified calls for action on domestic-violence prevention. 

The Free Press | Newsletter

Want to get a head start on your day?

Get the day’s breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning.

Sign up for Head Start
Sign Up
A shadow box featuring brass from a police uniform was dedicated to the memory of Hunter Haze Straight-Smith during the three-year-old's funeral on Nov. 8, 2019. (Supplied photo)</p>

A shadow box featuring brass from a police uniform was dedicated to the memory of Hunter Haze Straight-Smith during the three-year-old's funeral on Nov. 8, 2019. (Supplied photo)

Chrismas said it was a privilege for him to show respect for Hunter and his family during a "heartbreaking" situation. He said he discussed with the police chief’s office the idea of offering Hunter’s family a certificate, and they came up with the honorary constable title. It’s the first time in his 30-year career that anyone has been given that title, Chrismas said. 

"The tragedy of it when a child dies, it hits everyone in the community and in the police service," he said.

"We were doing that on behalf of the officers who responded and who worked around that investigation, and officers who deal with that kind of violence on a day in and day out basis. It was an honour, but we weren’t there for ourselves. We were there to represent all of the police officers who’ve been working so hard, especially lately, around violence in the community," Chrismas added.

"I think bad things can ripple through the community, and good things can, too."

 katie.may@freepress.mb.ca

@thatkatiemay

Katie May

Katie May
Reporter

Katie May is a general-assignment reporter for the Free Press.

   Read full biography

Advertisement

Advertise With Us

History

Updated on Saturday, November 9, 2019 at 10:23 PM CST: Edited

  • Report Error
  • Submit a Tip
  • Refund
  • The Free Press is certified by

The Winnipeg Free Press invites you to share your opinion on this story in a letter to the editor. A selection of letters to the editor are published daily.

To submit a letter:
• fill out the form on this page, or
• email letters@freepress.mb.ca, or
• mail Letters to the Editor, 1355 Mountain Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R2X 3B6.

Letters must include the writer’s full name, address, and a daytime phone number. Letters are edited for length and clarity.

Advertisement

Advertise With Us

Top