By Jennifer Fong
Edmonton Journal
Canadian CO’s death during fitness training a ‘mystery’
EDMONTON — The Solicitor General’s College and Alberta Workplace Health and Safety are investigating the death of correctional peace officer Joseph Adam McKeown, 28, who died last Tuesday while training at the college in Edmonton.
About half an hour into a morning fitness session, which began at 6:30 a.m. and involved light jogging, pushups and sit-ups, McKeown seemed to be exhausted and sat down, said Sharon Blackwell, spokeswoman for Workplace Health and Safety.
When McKeown’s condition got worse, paramedics were called. Fellow training officers and recruits performed CPR but were unable to resuscitate him.
McKeown was taken to the Misericordia Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, said Blackwell.
Police are not investigating the incident.
McKeown is a New Brunswick native who lived in the Red Deer area and worked at the Red Deer Remand Centre, said David Climenhaga, communications director for the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees.
“Joseph was well-liked and was known to his fellow correctional peace officers as a person they could count on in stressful circumstances,” said AUPE Local 003 Chair Cec Cardinal in a news release Friday.
“He will be missed by his colleagues in the close knit family of correctional peace officers at the Red Deer Remand Centre.”
A memorial service for McKeown will be held in Red Deer on Tuesday.
Copyright 2008 Edmonton Journal