Honour Roll

1923-05-18

Age: 46

On May 16, 1923, Leo Rogers, a 21 year old career criminal, escaped from the Nipissing District Court in North Bay. In response to a tip from a local merchant North Bay Chief Morbey assembled a posse which included Planclothesman Fred Lefebvre, Goaler Joe Bourke and Constables Robb and Sgt. McGovern. When located at McLarenís Garage, a gun battle and pursuit began which lasted through the night. Sgt. William McGovern was wounded when shot through the thigh. At dawn the battle continued where Mosquito Creek enters Lake Nipissing. From behind a tree, Rogers fired his rifle striking LeFebvre in the abdomen. Fred LeFebvre died the same day at Queen Victoria Memorial Hospital. Fred was 46 years of age when he was murdered.

Rogers remained at large and on May 30 killed OPP Sgt. John Urquhart. Leo Rogers was killed a day later by shots fired by OPP Inspector Storie. During the manhunt Rogers was identified through police photographs as the man responsible for several Toronto robberies.

1922-12-17

Age: 35

The Town of Thorold employed Constable Trueman as a night watchman. He was very diligent in his enforcement of the Ontario Temperance Act. Two days before his murder he and the local OPP constable were walking in Thorold when a fast moving car roared past them with fully automatic gunfire spraying at them. Neither officer was injured. On December 17th, Trueman followed his usual routine checking the Niagara, St. Catherines and Toronto Rail Road station building. Having spoken with the night cleaner he continued on patrol when a shot was heard and the Constable was seen falling dead to the ground. A suspect was arrested months later. After a first hung jury, he was convicted at the second trial. The suspect was paid $100.00 dollars by local bootleggers to kill the officer.

1922-05-02

Age: 30

Cst. Holloway and Cst. Brash were on bicycle patrol after having their midnight lunch at the station. They noticed a car travelling on Eramoan Road at a high rate of speed. The officers stood in the roadway waving their arms to signal the driver to stop. The vehicle failed to stop and struck Cst. Holloway carrying him down the road for several yards on the front of the vehicle. When the vehicle finally stopped the Cst. fell to the pavement striking the back of his head. Cst. Holloway was taken to hospital immediately where he was operated on but died from his injuries.

Born in the Ukraine he came to Canada in 1911. He was one of the first men in Guelph to join the army when war broke out in 1914. He received medals including the Mons Star for his service.

1921-09-11

Age: n/a

On September 12, 1921, Constable Reg Pryer, a motorcycle officer, was responding to a noise complaint in the vicinity of King Street East and Holton Avenue. As he approached on King Street near Sanford Avenue, a pedestrian began to cross unexpectedly. Pryer blew his horn and swerved to miss the man but a collision was unavoidable. The motorcycle struck the pedestrian and then skidded into the curb, throwing Pryer head first into a telegraph pole. The pedestrian suffered minor injuries. Pryer was critically injured with a fractured skull and died three hours later at the General Hospital. A passing Roman Catholic priest gave him the last rites at the scene.

1921-08-28

Age: n/a

Cst. Beard was the night watchman for the Town of Napanee. While on his usual patrol of the town he found someone attempting to break into the rear of a merchant's store on Dundas Street. He walked down the alley and came upon three suspects lurking in the shadows. A shot was heard and upon the inspection of the alley by members of the public they found Richard dead from a gunshot. His weapon still in the holster. A few months later Kingston Police arrested three brothers for a string of drug store robberies and the wounding of one of their officers. They were later tried and convicted of the murder of Constable Beard.

1920-05-18

Age: 44

Apparently in perfect health, Chief Angus McLellan was attending to his duties in the police station until late on Saturday afternoon. At around 5pm, he complained of not feeling well, and a local Doctor attended at the station, then drove the Chief home where he was put to bed. He was semi conscious Sunday afternoon then sank into unconsciousness, from which he never recovered.

It was found through autopsy that an old head injury was responsible for his death. Seven years earlier, while working to quell a riot during a strike at the coal docks in Port Arthur, he was struck on the head with a club, resulting in serious head trauma. He suffered for years from this inury, which ultimately took his life.

Born in Scotland, he was 44 years of age and single at the time of his death.

1919-11-29

Age: 65

On November 29, 1919, Cst. Springstead was assigned the duty of keeping deathwatch on a condemned murderer in the Wentworth County Jail, in Hamilton. The prisoner was allowed in the corridor outside his cell, for exercise, with Cst. Springstead who was alone. The prisoner jumped Cst. Springstead, choking him from behind until he was unconscious, beating and kicking the defenseless officer, until he was dead.

Cst. Springstead was 65 years of age, married with four children, and had been a police officer with the County for 35 years.

1919-07-18

Age: 29

George was born in Ireland in 1889. He immigrated to Canada in 1912 where he joined the Canadian Pacific Railway Police as a Constable. He later resigned to answer the call to war in 1916. He returned to Canada and settled in Thunder Bay before leaving the Military in 1919. It was then that he became the Village Constable in Nipigon.

On July 18th, 1919, George was investigating a Break and Enter when he was ambushed and shot along the Canadian Pacific rail line west of Nipigon.

Constable Armstrong was 29 years of age and single at the time of his death.

1919-04-19

Age: 55

On the afternoon of April 19, 1919, Sergeant Samuel Arniel was escorting a man who was under arrest back to the police station. The prisoner began to struggle, attempting to break free and escape. Sergeant Arniel suffered a massive heart attack and died.

Born in Kingston, Ontario, he was 55 years of age and married at the time of his death

1918-11-19

Age: 24

While struggling to hold two men he had just arrested, Acting Detective Frank Williams was shot twice through the heart and killed instantly in the yard of William G. Cross livery stable, 687 King Street West at 1820 hours on November 19, 1918.

One of the men, Frank McCullough, age 26, was on parole from Burwash Prison in May 1913, was captured at the corner of King and Bathurst Streets, 75 yards from the scene of the shooting while attempting to escape.

Frank McCullough was charged with murder, found guilty and later hanged for his crime.