OPP officer killed in Hearst, Ont., was ‘too young to leave us,’ father tells funeral

An Ontario Provincial Police constable killed on the job last week was remembered as a loving husband and son and the “glue” in his group of colleagues as fellow officers, family members and dignitaries paid their final respects on Thursday.

A photo of Const. Tarun Bali as a young boy, beaming and saluting, was placed at the front of the packed Mississauga funeral venue as bagpipes rang out and uniformed OPP pallbearers carried his coffin down the aisle.

Beneath the gleeful childhood photo was one of an adult Bali in uniform, the man the police force described as a proud Canadian who served with integrity and dedication.

Before the funeral got underway, police officers lined up in pouring rain for the arrival of the hearse with a large Canadian flag in the backdrop.

Bali, 29, was fatally struck by a vehicle last week in the northern Ontario town of Hearst, as police tried to stop a man who had escaped from a hospital. An 18-year-old has been charged with first-degree murder in the case.

Bali’s wife, Komal Sharma Bali, said she spent hours poring over photos to hold onto memories of a spouse who always “came home with kindness,” despite the weight of his job.

“Tarun was my safe place, my greatest love, my home,” she said. “He was the person I turned to without even thinking, and he somehow made even the heaviest days feel lighter.”

Her voice catching, she told Bali’s fellow officers that they shouldn’t blame themselves for his death as they replay his final moments in their minds.

“Sometimes, as painful as it is to accept, even our very best efforts can’t change the outcome. That’s not your fault,” she said.

“To Tarun… my words fall short of how I feel, but I am so lucky to love you and be loved by you,” she said, pausing for several moments as she fought to maintain her composure.

The late officer’s father said the pain of losing a son is impossible to put into words, but he hoped those listening would come away with a deep respect for police officers.

Ashok Bali said the family came to Canada in 2005, and he worked tirelessly alongside his wife to provide their children with a life of opportunity. Tarun Bali loved helping others and had dreamed of being a police officer since elementary school, his father said, gesturing to the old family photo.

“You were too young to leave us,” he said.

Chief Supt. Karl Thomas, who was Bali’s regional commander, remembered him as “the glue holding the group together during every challenge.”

Thomas said the officer’s service and courage will never be forgotten.

“There are no words that can fully ease your pain,” he said, addressing Bali’s wife and parents. “But please know this: You’re not alone. You are surrounded by a policing family and a broader community that stands with you today and in the days ahead.”

Bali had “a genuine warmth that drew people in,” said Supt. Jon Dumond, recalling the officer’s willingness to work countless hours across 11 detachments in the province and his volunteer work with Peel Region victim services.

Bali had been with the OPP for 2 1/2 years and was assigned to central Ontario’s Dufferin detachment but was on a deployment with the James Bay detachment when he was killed.

Sgt. Jay Moore of the Dufferin detachment said Bali was the first Indian officer to join the team, and fellow officers relied on him to translate when community members who couldn’t communicate in English needed help.

Moore recalled bringing Bali to his family home and holding the officer under his arm “like a son.”

During the service, Hindu priests chanted in Sanskrit and offered final prayers for Bali’s soul, believed to be eternal. A constable also sang O Canada ahead of a moment of silence.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford told mourners that he had a heart-wrenching conversation with Bali’s widow.

Bali’s death is felt across the province, including the Brampton neighbourhood where he grew up and the places where his OPP “family” resides, the premier said.

“We can never properly repay the debt of gratitude that this province owes him,” Ford said.

Dumond said Bali’s death is a reminder of “the profound realities of policing.”

Bali is one of two officers killed on the job in the province this month. Const. Marc Pinizzotto, a Toronto police veteran, was shot dead last week during a raid linked to investigations into multiple shootings, including one at the U.S. Consulate in March.

“The impact of Tarun’s service and life reach far beyond the calls for service that he answered, and he will be remembered for that,” Dumond said.

Bali’s family said they would appreciate donations to the SickKids Foundation.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 18, 2026.

Elissa Mendes, The Canadian Press