A peace officer who died after being dropped off at a southeast Calgary police station today was a retired RCMP homicide detective who had posed undercover as a high-ranking mobster.

Rod Lazenby had been working as an MD of Foothills community peace officer for more than three years, said Bill Robinson, the district’s municipal treasurer.

“We’re kind of all in a state of shock right now,” Robinson said. “It really hasn’t sunk in yet but our sympathies are with his family.”

Mounties have a man in custody.

No charges have been laid in the case.

Police say the suspect drove an injured Lazenby in his own work SUV to the District 8 police office on Midpark Way S.E. and turned himself in Friday morning.

Lazenby was rushed to hospital in critical, potentially life-threatening condition Friday after 11 a.m.

Lazenby was pronounced dead upon arrival.

RCMP and Calgary police continue investigating a property two kilometres north of Priddis called the Tangled Spur Ranch.

Its owner, Bruce Adams, said he was renting the property to a man who has about 30 blue heeler dogs and had repeatedly been visited by bylaw officers.

Adams said the renter had been there for about a year.

Fellow peace officer Clayton Terletski shared an office with Lazenby and they often talked about work and family.

“His family was important,” Terletski said. “He was really proud of his grandson.”

He described his co-worker as an introvert who would occasionally share stories about being undercover RCMP officer.

“He did some pretty exciting stuff,” Terletski said.

Lazenby once posed as a high-ranking mobster in an undercover sting in Ontario.

In 2002, Lazenby aided Ottawa police by befriending Andre Jeanvenne, accused of the Jan. 1983 shotgun slaying of Donald Poulin in Gloucester, Ont.

Lazenby, who called himself Rod Calabria, assumed an Italian accent and wined and dined the suspect at a steak house and a stripper club to get him to talk.

In the MD of Foothills, south of Calgary, Lazenby was one of five community peace officers with the municipality serving a population of more than 21,250. He dealt mainly with bylaw violations, including animal complaints, said Robinson.

Robinson said this is the first time the district has lost a staff member on duty under such circumstances.

“We’ve never had anything like this happen before,” Robinson said.

Condolences from Alberta’s Minister of Justice and Solicitor General Jonathan Denis recognized Lazenby’s sacrifice.

“It is with great sadness that I express my condolences to the friends, family and colleagues of Foothills community peace officer Rod Lazenby,” said Denis in a statement.

“Tragedies such as this remind us all of the selfless acts peace and police officers make to protect our safety each and every day. On behalf of all Albertans, I want to recognize Mr. Lazenby for his service and assure his loved ones that his sacrifice will never be forgotten.”