An RCMP officer accused in the stabbing death of an Ottawa police officer was allegedly dressed like a detective, wearing a Kevlar vest, a holster and carrying a pellet gun, sources tell CTV Ottawa.

Const. Kevin Gregson, 43, is under suicide watch following a court appearance where he faced first-degree murder charges in connection with the death.

He held his head low during the appearance on Wednesday morning, and is remanded in protective custody until Jan. 7.

Gregson is charged with first-degree murder, robbery and using an imitation firearm.

The robbery charge is in relation to a vehicle that was found parked at the Civic Campus of the Ottawa Hospital, where Const. Eric Czapnik, 51, was killed.

Judge Richard Sculthorpe granted a Crown request to put Gregson under suicide watch on Wednesday morning.

However, defence lawyer Israel Gencher said the move is precautionary.

"It's a precaution that the police are seeking. Something during the course of their interviews have caused them to have concerns; and in an abundance of caution, they've requested it from the court," said Gencher.

He said he could not comment on the state of his client's mind. However, he is considering asking for a psychiatric assessment for his client.

He also said it's common for police officers to be granted protective custody regardless of the situation because police have been known to be in danger when they are put behind bars.

Family shaken by charges

Gregson's parents, who were visibly shaken and upset, sat in the courtroom as their son appeared before the judge. They asked not to be questioned by the media.

"His parents are understandable quite upset. They are asking to please honour their privacy," said Gencher.

"They're elderly. This has rocked their world and they're really not in a position to give a statement at this time."

He said his next step is to take the case to a superior court judge to ask for bail for his client.

Suspect's past

Gregson -- who has two daughters and is originally from Ottawa -- worked for the RCMP in Saskatchewan. He was suspended with pay in 2006. However, he was recently suspended without pay.

Gencher could not say how long his client has been residing in Ottawa, or where he was living.

In 2006, Gregson was arrested for pulling a knife on a Mormon church official in Regina.

He received a conditional discharge after explaining to the court that he had recently undergone brain surgery for cysts on his brain.

Following the incident, a formal RCMP board reviewed the case in 2008 and ordered Gregson to either resign or be dismissed.

Gregson appealed the decision, which is currently being reviewed by an external review committee.

Murder charges

The charges were laid Tuesday night, more than 15 hours after Czapnik was killed.

Police say Czapnik was sitting in his cruiser outside the emergency room of the Ottawa Hospital taking notes on an unrelated case when he was attacked by a male suspect at about 4:30 a.m.

RCMP Commissioner William Elliott said late Tuesday that he was "shocked" to learn the suspect charged in the case was a member of the RCMP.

Love for others

Czapnik was a Polish immigrant who moved to Canada in 1990. He was a proud father of three sons and one daughter.

He joined the Ottawa police force late in life, after deciding to follow in his father's footsteps in 2007.

Those who knew Czapnik say it was his love for people and his determination that brought him to the ranks of the Ottawa police.

"His dream was to be a police officer," said friend Roger Furmanczyk, who sits on the parish council of the St-Hyacinth Polish Church, where Czapnik was a parishioner.

Others remembered him as a man who always had a smile on his face, and left a powerful impression on everyone he met.

"He will be missed certainly by everybody -- by his family, our community and the entire Ottawa community. It's a loss for all of us," said Wlodek Ciepala, who played soccer with Czapnik.

A memorial will be held at the St-Hyacinth Polish Church at 201 LeBreton St. N. on Monday.

Outpouring of support

People streamed in and out of Ottawa police headquarters on Wednesday to sign a book of condolences for the slain officer.

Many wiped away tears and tried to muffle sniffles as they wrote messages of support. The book at 474 Elgin St. is available to sign 24 hours a day.

Other books of condolences are also available at police stations across the city from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday. Those locations include:

  • 4561 Bank St.,
  • 211 Huntmar Dr.,
  • 3343 St. Joseph Blvd.,
  • and 245 Greenbank Rd.

Those who can't make it to the police station are invited to send email messages to info@ottawapolice.ca.

His funeral will be held at Lansdowne Park on Thursday, Jan. 7 at 1:30 p.m. Visitations will be at Beechwood Cemetery, 280 Beechwood Ave., on Tuesday and Wednesday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Donations to a trust fund for the children can be made at the Ottawa Police Credit Union at 274 Elgin Street.

With a report from Karen Soloman and Maggie Padlewska