The wife of a South Simcoe Police officer who died in the line of duty has been recognized for her efforts of advocacy. On Oct. 11, 2024, 36-year-old Constable Michael Northrup and 54-year-old Constable Morgan Russell were dispatched to a domestic call at an Innisfil home. The two were fatally wounded while attending the call. Both later died in hospital. On Sunday, Marissa Russell, the wife of Morgan, received a King Charles III Coronation Medal, presented to her by Minister Michael Kerzner. “It was an honour to stand alongside Marisa, her family, and loved ones for this meaningful recognition,” police said in a post on social media. The medal is awarded to those who have made a significant contribution to Canada or to a particular province, territory, region or community of Canada. Recipients must be nominated for the award. In the case of Russell, she was nominated by the office of Premier Doug Ford in recognition of her advocacy through Survivors of Law Enforcement (SOLE). SOLE is Ontario-based support organization for spouses, partners and families of police officers who have been killed in the line of duty. The group provides assistance to survivors as they navigate grief and recovery. “We will never forget the lives of our fallen heroes, their service, and their sacrifice,” police said, adding “their legacy continues to live on through the work of those who carry their memory forward.”
