The Edmonton Sun
Death of Canadian CO under investigation
EDMONTON, Alberta — As colleagues mourned his death yesterday, officials continue to wait for medical reports to figure out why a young corrections officer died during training two weeks ago.
Joseph Adam McKeown, 28, was participating in a fitness session that included light jogging, pushups and situps on July 22 “when he appeared to be exhausted and sat down. His condition worsened,” said Barrie Harrison of the province’s Occupational Health and Safety office.
At the time, McKeown, an officer at the Red Deer Remand Centre, was at the Alberta Solicitor General training college in southwest Edmonton for a six-week course.
While he had been working part-time for the government for a year, the New Brunswick native’s promotion to a full-time job meant he had to take the training, said Alberta Union of Provincial Employees president Doug Knight.
Yesterday, McKeown was remembered during a memorial service in Red Deer.
Meanwhile, workplace safety investigators are tentatively involved in the case pending toxicology results.
The tests should shed more light on whether McKeown’s death was a medical event or if it was work-related.
“If it’s medical-related, then Occupational Health and Safety will stand down,” said Harrison.
Copyright 2008 Edmonton Sun