Hamilton cadet captain undergoes spinal surgery after assault during poppy drive

Captain Kenneth Kunkel, 59, was supervising air cadets collecting donations for poppies outside a Hamilton restaurant on Nov. 1 when two youths approached and blew an air horn into the cadets' ears, police said. Kunkel followed the youths into the restaurant and confronted them. During the confrontation, an adult woman intervened and allegedly assaulted him, causing him to fall, after which one of the youths reportedly struck him several times. The injuries left Kunkel unable to move his legs, and he underwent same-day spinal surgery. He remains in rehabilitation and cannot walk for the foreseeable future.

"My father’s legs buckled and he lost movement during the confrontation," said Christopher Kunkel, the captain’s son, adding that his father told bystanders he needed help.

Kunkel has been involved with the air cadet program for nearly two decades, mentoring cadets and influencing former participants who later joined municipal police services, the RCMP and the Canadian Armed Forces. A crowdfunding campaign has been launched to support his recovery.

Police have arrested a 12-year-old boy on charges of level one assault and aggravated assault, and a 48-year-old woman on aggravated assault. No charges have been announced for the second youth. The investigation continues, and police are asking anyone with information to come forward.