Suicide of Canadian border agent shuts down Ambassador Bridge

A major bridge connecting the US to Canada was shut down for several hours on Saturday after a border agent died by suicide at work.

The border officer has not been identified, but authorities said they were Canadian. 

Ambassador Bridge, which connects Ontario, Canada, to Detroit Michigan, closed to traffic at around 10.25 on Saturday. Windsor Police said it reopened at 3.12pm. 

The Customs and Immigration Union released a statement on Sunday saying a border officer took their life at work. 

Ambassador Bridge, which connects Ontario, Canada, to Detroit Michigan, closed to traffic at around 10.25 on Saturday. Windsor Police said it reopened at 3.12pm

We wish to express our most sincere condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of the deceased — our thoughts are with all who are affected by these difficult circumstances, the union said. 

Incidents such as this one bring to light the challenges public safety personnel may be confronted with throughout their career, and they remind us of the need for a comprehensive mental health support structure and of the importance of taking down barriers to access these services, both in professional and private settings. 

These tragedies also serve as a reminder of the value of supporting each other in the face of hardship. 

The death of a member is difficult for all, and we recognize the impact this sad event has on our community.

Pictured: Ambassador Bridge when it was shut down by protesters on February 11, 2022

Traversing the Detroit River, the four-lane Ambassador Bridge is the busiest international border crossing in the US in terms of trade volume. 

Traffic was re-routed to the Detroit-Windsor tunnel while the toll bridge was closed on Saturday.  

The Customs and Immigration Union urged any officers who required support in the aftermath of the tragedy to call the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) at 1.877.367.0809 (TTY: 1.877.338.0275) for confidential assistance.

Support can also be found through the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling 988.