WARMINGTON: OPP ‘hearts are broken’ at death of much-respected motorcycle cop Sgt. Brandon Malcolm

Sgt. Brandon Malcolm was just 33 but already a legend in Ontario Provincial Police and much loved

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Published Apr 28, 2026  •  Last updated 2 minutes ago  •  3 minute read

OPP Sgt. Brandon Malcolm

Sgt. Brandon Malcolm was not just working as an OPP officer when he was riding his police motorcycle each and every day in Northumberland County.

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He was living his dream.

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“He was the epitome of a police officer,” said journalist Pete Fisher of Today’s Northumberland who knew him well. “There is not a better guy I have ever met in my years of doing this.”

So, when Fisher responded to a traffic accident on Highway 401 Monday evening and saw it was Malcolm’s motorcycle down on the highway, his heart broke.

It was clear early that this was a fatal crash and the person who died here was this beloved officer known all over the county for going to schools with his bike and helping anybody and everybody.

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“Devastating,” said Fisher, adding Malcolm was “a person who treated everybody with respect and everybody liked him.”

Death was beginning of frantic night

Malcolm’s death was a major blow for Ontario Provincial Police and the beginning of a frantic night.

The first responding officers in separate cars collided as they were travelling westbound on the 401 to reach their peer who had been travelling east and was down on the highway. Both cars were badly damaged and the officers were taken to hospital with minor injuries.

But their wounds, and all of their colleagues, were beyond physical.

“Hearts are broken,” said OPP Commissioner Thomas Carrique.

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OPP Association President David Sabatini reiterated this point.

“We are heartbroken over the death of our Member, who was killed in the line of duty while operating a police motorcycle in Cobourg,” he said. “Our thoughts are with our Member’s family, colleagues and friends during this difficult time.”

Then came the problem of trying to locate the 33-year-old officer’s family for a notification process before this all came out in the media. This was no easy task since it was very clear there were three OPP vehicles damaged on the highway. For several hours as the OPP frantically searched for Malcolm’s next of kin to give them this horrible news before it showed up on social media, media held off out of respect for the officer and his family.

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But there came a point when the OPP realized they had to get this information out there about losing one of their own.

“It is with deep sorrow that I advise an OPP officer was killed while on duty along Highway 401 in Cobourg this afternoon,” said Carrique. ”Our thoughts are with the officer’s loved ones and with OPP members during this devastating time, as we grieve the loss of one of our own.”

Every officer is valued. Malcolm certainly was. He had special skills – ones that were on duty each and every day. He was doing something he always wanted to do.

Began career with Toronto Police

Malcolm began his career working with Toronto Police as an auxiliary officer and also served in the Canadian Armed Forces before proudly joining the OPP in 2020.

“His career goal was to become a police officer,” Carrique told a news conference.

He not only achieved that but also became a member of the OPP’s famous Golden Helmets precision motorcycle team.

“I will be forever grateful to him for his service. He has been taken far too soon under such tragic circumstances,” said Carrique.

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From Premier Doug Ford to Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw, the condolences and tributes came pouring in.

Now comes the task of learning what happened out there to cause this crash. All lanes of the 401 at Burnham Street were closed in both directions as investigators started working on this. It will be thoroughly investigated.

But from a human perspective, things will take longer than getting a highway back open again.

“He was living his best life as a police officer,” said Carrique, adding Malcolm was “a very proud member of our Golden Helmets, the precision motorcycle team, a skilled motor officer, and doing an incredible job serving this province and dedicated to his community,”

Said Carrique: “Our hearts are shattered.”

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