Honour Roll

1892-09-06

Age: 25

On September 6th, 1892 while attempting to arrest an armed drifter, Special Constable John Davey was shot in the chest at point blank range. John Davey was on foot patrol at the Grand Trunk Railway yards in Cornwall, Ontario. The Circus was in town. Also in town was a former resident turned highwayman James Slavin, who was out to extract revenge on anyone who got in his way; shortly before noon he found a few willing combatants in two local toughs, John "Black Diamond" Roach and Antoine Lafess. Two shots rang out, Roach and Lafess were wounded, the crowd screamed and Constable Davey, along with a Good Samaritan Louis Lafave ran to investigate. Davey intercepted the fleeing shooter knocking him down. Lafave grabbed the drifter from behind and was shot in the shoulder. As Constable John Davey pounced to control the shooter, he was fatally shot dying within seconds.

John Robert Davey was born in Cornwall on April 27th of 1845. He was the son of Barnard and Catherine and had 8 siblings. He was a Captain in the 59th Stormont Dundas Militia Unit and a Major in the Militia Band. John owned and operated his own Leather and Harness shop across the road from the police station. He was 47 years of age, married with three children Charles, James and Frank. He had been sworn in as a Constable with the Cornwall Police in August of 1892.

1891-01-07

Age: 50

50 years of age at the time of his death married, and was a police officer for 14 years.

He was driving the police patrol, fell from the wagon, got his foot caught in the gears and was dragged down the street by the runaway team, his head repeatedly striking the frozen ground. He died a few hours later the same day. He was born in England.

1854-10-02

Age: 38

On October 2nd, 1854, Constable Richards entered the Village Inn to arrest a male wanted for the robbery of a local farmer. During the arrest, Constable Richards was shot by the suspect. He died a few hours later as a result of his injuries.

Born in the East Indies, Constable Charles Richards was approximately 38 years of age and married without children at the time of his death.

1829-09-16

Age: n/a

Timothy C. Pomeroy was a Constable for Middlesex County. On September 16, 1829 while investigating a possible chicken thief in the area of Otter Creek in Bayham Township, he was shot and killed. Cornelius Burleigh was arrested and convicted for the murder. He was hung in 1831 at the Middlesex County Jail for this murder.

1804-10-07

Age: n/a

The first known police officer killed in the line of duty in Canada is High County Constable John Fisk of King Twp. John Fisk was the Auctioneer, pound-keeper and the High Constable for the Town of York (Toronto). On October 7, 1804 he was transporting a prisoner to court in Newcastle on the HMS Speedy one of only two schooners which made up the Provincial Marine on Lake Ontario. The vessel never arrived, the officer, prisoner and all approx. 20 people on board including the Judge of the Kings Bench and the Attorney General of Upper Canada were lost. It is believed that a fierce storm sank the schooner.