On Sunday, May 7, 2017 11am, families, friends and the policing community will gather at Queen’s Park, Toronto, Ontario Canada, to pay tribute to 264 police officers who have fallen in the line of duty. For updates on ceremony itinerary click here. For directions click here. All are welcome.
Ontario Police Memorial Ceremony of Remembrance May 7, 2017 11am Queen’s Park, Toronto
Four historical additions to the Memorial Wall will be honoured at the 2017 Ontario Police Memorial Ceremony of Remembrance
High County Constable Alfred Fabien Hippolyte Campeau of Essex County. Date of death: 12 December 1912
Badge of High County Constable Alfred Fabien Hippolyte Campeau of Essex County. Date of death: 12 December 1912
High County Constable Alfred Fabien Hippolyte Campeau of Essex County. Date of death: 12 December 1912
On December 12, 1912, High Constable Campeau had been working in the
Ruscom area. He arrived at the train station to catch the Windsor bound express,
arriving just as it was leaving the station. He ran for the moving train and jumped
to board it but slipped and fell under the wheels severely injuring his left leg. He
was placed on the train and taken into Windsor to Hotel Dieu Hospital. Surgery
took place but he passed away shortly after.
His policing experience covered 28 years. Alfred Campeau started his policing
career with the Windsor Police on September 15, 1884. In 1889, he was appointed
as a Provincial Officer by the Province of Ontario. In 1896, he was appointed
Chief of Police in the Detroit River area. In 1909, he was one of the first officers
appointed to the newly formed Ontario Provincial Police (OPP). In 1910, officers
with the OPP were issued uniforms however Constable Campeau refused to wear
the uniform and was released from the Force. He was then named the High County
Constable for Essex County.
Alfred was 56 years of age, married with 4 children at the time of his death.
Constable Daniel Craig of Chesterville. Date of death: 29 June 1932
Constable Daniel Craig
Chesterville Police
29 June 1932
During the evening of June 29, 1932, a drunken youth had been causing a
disturbance within the village of Chesterville. The young man was yelling and
cursing at a woman who was sitting on her front porch. Her husband took hold of
the trouble maker and escorted him across town to the Town Hall to be dealt with
by Constable Daniel Craig. Before the youth could be turned over to Constable
Craig, he broke free and escaped with the gentleman and now others in pursuit.
Some blocks away he was captured again and brought back to the Town Hall
where the jail was located. Constable Craig took over the arrest and wrestled the
young man through the building and into the cell, where he was locked up.
Constable Craig then went to leave the building but suddenly collapsed in the door
way. Two local doctors were quickly summonsed and attended to Constable Craig
but unfortunately he had died of a heart attack within minutes.
Daniel was 59 years of age, married and had been the Town Constable for 4 years
at the time of his death.
Constable John Ferguson of Exeter OPP. Date of death 20 October 1949
Constable John Ferguson Exeter OPP
20 October 1949
On October 20, 1949, Constable John Ferguson and his partner travelled to Grand
Bend at the request of the Grand Bend Police to assist with arresting a suspected
mental health patient. It was reported that the suspect was wandering around the
village carrying a pipe wrench. During the arrest there was a violent struggle with
the suspect, but he was subdued, arrested and placed into the back seat of the
cruiser. Constable Ferguson got in beside the suspect. His partner and a Grand
Bend officer sat in the front seats. Before the cruiser could leave that location,
Constable Ferguson suffered a heart attack and died moments later in the cruiser.
John Ferguson was 55 years of age and had been policing for 27 years. He began
as a County Constable in Huron County, then joined the Ontario Provincial Police
on June 1, 1947. He was married and had a son at the time of his death.
County Constable Mont Alexander Wood of Lennox And Addington. Date of death: 1 December 1951
County Cst. Mont Alexander Wood
Lennox And Addington Police
1 December 1951
County Cst. Mont Alexander Wood
Lennox And Addington Police
1 December 1951
In the early morning hours of December 1, 1951, Constable Mont Wood had
stopped to assist a stranded trucker north of the village of Northbrook on Highway
41. While waiting for a tow truck to arrive, he saw headlights approaching through
the heavy fog. Constable Wood stepped out from behind his car with the intention
to close the vehicles door, when he was struck by the approaching car. Constable
Wood was hurled some 20 feet through the air and landed on the ground seriously
injured.
Constable Gordon Stout of the Northbrook Ontario Provincial Police detachment
arrived carried the gravely injured officer into his cruiser and rushed him to the
Belleville hospital. His injuries proved fatal and he died shortly after arriving.
Mont Wood was 59 years of age, a veteran of World War I and was married with 5
children at the time of his death. He had been the County Constable in Lennox and
Addington for 29 years.
We hope you will join us in support. Please be sure to check back regularly for updated information. For further information on the Memorial or to purchase pins, please visit OPMF or Memorial Pins.
