A dedicated protector answered her final call while simply driving to headquarters.
Sergeant Investigator Anaïs Fortin-Cozzens of the Sûreté du Québec’s Major Crimes Investigation Division in Gatineau lost her life on March 31, 2026, after a multi-vehicle collision on Route 138 in Portneuf-sur-Mer. The 37-year-old officer was on duty when the crash occurred roughly 300 kilometres northeast of Quebec City. She was rushed to hospital but succumbed to her injuries.
Colleagues and law enforcement agencies across Canada are mourning a professional known for her unwavering commitment, professionalism, and deep sense of duty. From the Calgary Police Service to the Ottawa Police Service and beyond, tributes poured in honoring a woman who spent her career pursuing justice in major crime cases.
Quebec Premier François Legault and Public Security Minister Ian Lafrenière joined the Sûreté du Québec in expressing profound sorrow. “Investigator Fortin-Cozzen’s died in the line of duty, but she will never be forgotten,” the minister stated. The SQ itself posted an official in-memoriam banner, emphasizing her service and the heavy loss felt by her entire unit.
She leaves behind a grieving spouse, children, extended family, and a brotherhood and sisterhood in blue who remember her bravery every single day. In the dangerous world of major crimes investigation, she stood tall — protecting communities far from the spotlight.
Her story is a solemn reminder of the quiet courage required to wear the badge. Though her watch has ended, Sergeant Investigator Anaïs Fortin-Cozzens’s legacy of service and sacrifice will endure in every life she helped safeguard and every colleague she inspired.
