Cop who arrested van suspect doesn’t want ‘hero’ label: Police

Toronto’s deputy police chief says the officer who peacefully arrested the suspect in Monday’s deadly van attack doesn’t want to be called a “hero.” Peter Yuen says Const. Ken Lam has a mindset to “help as many people as possible.” (April 25, 2018) 1. SOUNDBITE: Deputy Chief Peter Yuen, Toronto Police Service PLACELINE: Toronto CREDIT: The Canadian Press STORYLINE: A Toronto police officer who has earned international acclaim for the peaceful arrest of a man accused in a deadly van attack does not want to be hailed as a hero. Deputy police chief Peter Yuen said the officer, Const. Ken Lam, feels there are many first responders and members of the public who should be praised for their actions in the moments after a van mounted a sidewalk, killing 10 pedestrians and injuring 13. ``He wants to make sure that everyone understands he was not a hero, he was merely doing a job,'' Yuen told a news conference on Wednesday. Lam, who has been on the force for seven years, clearly exhibited and understood police training when he arrested 25-year-old Alek Minassian, the alleged driver of the van, the deputy chief added. ``That could have turned into a very tragic situation for more people _ for the accused's family and for officer Lam's family, if (Lam) had opened fire,'' he said.