Ontario Police Memorial Foundation

DETAILS: Sergeant Russell died while attempting to stop the driver of a stolen heavy-duty pick up truck equipped with a snow plow. The driver had commandeered the vehicle earlier that morning, and for nearly two hours careened his way through downtown Toronto streets hitting buildings and striking several cars.

February, about 22 years ago...

Constable

Laura J. Ellis

Toronto Police

February 18th, 2002

DETAILS: In the early morning hours of Monday, February 18, 2002, a 42 Division scout car was involved in a motor vehicle collision on Brimley Road near Huntingwood Drive in Scarborough. Laura Ellis, a passenger in the car, 31 years, and a 5 year member of the Service was killed. Constable Ellis joined the Toronto Police Service in December 1996 and was appointed Constable in June 1997.

August, about 26 years ago...

Detective Constable

William D. J. Hancox

Toronto Police

August 4th, 1998

DETAILS: Officer Hancox, a Detective with the Toronto Police Service was assigned to the Special Investigation Squad, Break and Enter detail. He was working undercover with a team of officers in the north east section of Toronto. At approximately 10 pm he told his fellow team members he was attending a store in the Centennial Plaza to obtain a cold soda pop. A very short time later, a second broadcast was received from Officer Hancox advising that he was stabbed and needed help. Officers attended the plaza parking lot and found Officer Hancox severely injured, lying near his police vehicle. Emergency first aid was applied and the officer was transported to Sunnybrook Medical Center. At 11:01 p.m. Police Officer Hancox succumbed to his injuries.

September, about 30 years ago...

Constable

John W. Knight

Metropolitan Toronto Police

September 28th, 1994

DETAILS: On September 28, 1994, Constable John W. Knight was in pursuit of a vehicle when he lost control of his police car and struck a bridge abutment. Constable Knight died as a result of his injuries.

June, about 30 years ago...

Constable

Todd E. Baylis

Metropolitan Toronto Police

June 17th, 1994

DETAILS: On June 17, 1994, Constable Todd E. Baylis and his partner were conducting a walk-through of a building complex when they attempted to arrest a suspect who was wanted for drug trafficking. The suspect was found carrying a large amount of crack cocaine and a loaded handgun. The officers were in the process of chasing down the suspect when he fired back at Constable Baylis, hitting the officer in the head. Constable Baylis died in hospital.

March, about 36 years ago...

Constable

Hugh G. M. Lynn

Metropolitan Toronto Police

March 6th, 1988

DETAILS: Constable Lynn, assigned to traffic patrol duties on the Don Valley Parkway, had pulled over a car to investigate the driver for a speeding infraction at about 0155 hours March 6, 1988. Both vehicles were stopped on the east side, soft shoulder, near Wynford Drive, with the cruiser's emergency lights activated. Constable Lynn was standing on the shoulder talking to the driver of the stopped vehicle when he was struck by another car traveling northbound in the curb lane at about 90 km/h. The force of the impact carried the officer about 200 feet. He received severe head injuries and was dead on arrival at hospital.

September, about 40 years ago...

Constable

David A. Dunmore

Metropolitan Toronto Police

September 18th, 1984

DETAILS: On Tuesday, September 18, 1984 Constable David Dunmore was on duty with his partner, Constable Bradley Bested. An all points broadcast advised all units to look for a stolen vehicle whose occupants had threatened two persons with a gun. Constables Dunmore and Bested spotted this car in the Royal York/Queensway area and immediately took up pursuit. As the officers attempted to pull the stolen car over, the driver braked sharply forcing them to stop in front of the stolen vehicle. The suspect jumped from the car and opened fire with a semi-automatic weapon. Constable Dunmore, a front seat passenger, was fatally wounded before he had an opportunity to get out of the car. Constable Bested returned fire and the suspect fled by foot.

September, about 43 years ago...

Constable

Percival B. Cummins

Metropolitan Toronto Police

September 23rd, 1981

DETAILS: Constables Percy Cummins and Michael Jones responded to a man gone berserk call on Symington Avenue on September 23, 1981. Cautiously, they made their way to the second floor of the three storey rooming house. Here they met Jamaican immigrant, Desmond Pert, 21. The officers followed him into his room. A scuffle ensued and shots were fired. Cummins fell to the floor. Two hours later he was pronounced dead at St. Joseph Medical Centre. Jones was wounded in the hand. Constables Hartl and Packard arrived on the scene. When Pert aimed his revolver at Hartl, the officer fired, severely wounding Pert.

March, about 44 years ago...

Constable

Michael W. Sweet

Metropolitan Toronto Police

March 14th, 1980

DETAILS: Constable Sweet and his partner, Ronald Crossley, were patrolling in their cruiser on the night of March 14, 1980 when they received a report of a robbery in progress. Other officers were already at George's Bourbon Street Restaurant on Queen Street when they arrived. Deep in the interior of the restaurant Sweet was shot. He didn't lose consciousness and pleaded with the assailants for his life. Two brothers James and Craig Munro showed no mercy in giving up their hostage. Not certain of the situation inside the restaurant, heavily armed police set up a command post outside. An hour and a half later at 0330 hours they stormed the restaurant and rescued Sweet. The loss of blood had been too much. He died on the operating table at 0610 hours.

September, about 46 years ago...

Constable

Henry Snedden

Metropolitan Toronto Police

September 15th, 1978

DETAILS: On September 15, 1978 Constable Henry Snedden and his partner, Donald Chadbolt, responded to what they thought was a domestic dispute on Mooreshead Drive in Etobicoke. Upon arriving at the disturbance, the officers found two groups of people standing outside 16 and 18 Mooreshead. The officers separated. Suddenly Arthur Hayden Packwood began struggling with Constable Snedden. Chadbolt rushed to his partner's aid. Momentarily the two officers appeared to have the situation under control. They didn't realize Packwood had managed to get Snedden's service revolver out of his holster. Shots rang out. Constable Snedden was dead before reaching Queensway General Hospital.

November, about 48 years ago...

Constable

Paul G. Gosling

Metropolitan Toronto Police

November 5th, 1976

DETAILS: Constable Gosling was patrolling on his police motorcycle when he was involved in a motor vehicle accident on Islington Avenue at Winnipeg Road. He died from his injury.

September, about 49 years ago...

Constable

Lee E. Wilson

Metropolitan Toronto Police

September 25th, 1975

DETAILS: Constable Wilson was killed in a motor vehicle collision while on his way to a pay duty in his own vehicle.

February, about 51 years ago...

Constable

Leslie Maitland

Metropolitan Toronto Police

February 1st, 1973

DETAILS: On February 1, 1973 Constable Maitland, together with Constable Brian McCullum, an unarmed police trainee, were asked to watch for suspicious persons. The Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce at Danforth and Coxwell Avenue had been robbed of $1,800. The two men saw a speeding car on Danforth. They gave chase and spotted the empty car after it slammed into a garage on Woodrow Avenue. Both officers left their cruiser, McCullum and Maitland approached the suspect car and a lone pedestrian walking up the street. The pedestrian turned out to be 24 year old Rene Vaillancourt, the armed robber. Vaillancourt opened fire on Maitland. Four bullets found their mark and he was dead on arrival at the hospital. McCullum was also shot at four times but escaped unharmed.

January, about 51 years ago...

Constable

James Lothian

Metropolitan Toronto Police

January 10th, 1973

DETAILS: On January 10, 1973 Constable Lothian spotted a fast moving vehicle running a red light. Giving chase, he caught up to the vehicle on Amelia Street when it ran into the rear of another vehicle. Lothian jumped from his cruiser. He was met by David Brian (Duke) Holmes, a crazed drug addict, who shot and fatally wounded the officer. Seven hours after the shooting of the police officer, Holmes attempted to kill himself with a bullet through his skull. His buddy, Walter Eugene McVicar, 25, an occupant of the car chased by Lothian, is believed to have finished the job by firing two further shots into Holmes' head before turning the gun on himself.

February, about 52 years ago...

Detective

Michael Irwin

Metropolitan Toronto Police

February 27th, 1972

DETAILS: Detectives Michael Irwin and Douglas Sinclair were dispatched to an apparent routine domestic call where a citizen was discharging a pellet gun. On arrival at 267 Roywood Drive, Constable Sam Fox joined them. While searching for Apt. 408, Louis Fines burst through the door and into the hall holding an automatic rifle. When ordered by Detective Irwin to \"drop the gun\", he fired and struck Irwin who fell to the floor. Detective Sinclair took two bullets directly into his chest that ended his life. Fines took off through a door at the end of the hall. Constable Fox raced after him, shooting as he ran, but lost Fines in the basement garage. Fox returned to the fallen Detectives. He had begun mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on Detective Sinclair when he heard Fines coming up the stairs. Fox ordered him to drop the rifle. Fines raised his rifle. At that moment Fox shot him dead. Detective Irwin was rushed to the hospital but did not survive.

February, about 52 years ago...

Constable

Donald H. Lewis

Metropolitan Toronto Police

February 11th, 1972

DETAILS: Constable Lewis was killed when struck by a motor vehicle while on duty.

February, about 52 years ago...

Detective

Douglas T. Sinclair

Metropolitan Toronto Police

February 27th, 1972

DETAILS: Detectives Douglas Sinclair and Michael Irwin were dispatched to an apparent routine domestic call where a citizen was discharging a pellet gun. On arrival at 267 Roywood Drive, they were joined by Constable Sam Fox. While searching for Apt. 408, Louis Fines burst through the door and into the hall holding an automatic rifle. When ordered by Detective Irwin to drop the gun, he fired and struck Irwin who fell to the floor. Detective Sinclair took two bullets directly into his chest that ended his life. Fines took off through a door at the end of the hall. Constable Fox raced after him, shooting as he ran, but lost Fines in the basement garage. Fox returned to the fallen Detectives. He had begun mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on Detective Sinclair when he heard Fines coming up the stairs. Fox ordered him to drop the rifle. Fines raised his rifle. At that moment Fox shot him dead. Detective Irwin was rushed to the hospital but did not survive.

October, about 55 years ago...

Constable

David Goldsworthy

Metropolitan Toronto Police

October 5th, 1969

DETAILS: At 0140 hours, October 6, 1969, Vito Cosentino, a catering service employee, noticed a police car with its lights on parked on Gary Ray Drive in North York. There was no one in the car. When Cosentino saw the car again at 0330 hours he called police. The body of Constable Goldsworthy was found in an adjoining field. He had been shot in the chest, mouth and neck. The slain officer's notebook was found beside his body with the word, Vincenzo scrawled across one page.

January, about 58 years ago...

Constable

Ronald F. Webster

Toronto Police

January 18th, 1966

DETAILS: On January 18, 1966, Constable Webster was on routine patrol when the cruiser he was operating was struck head on by a vehicle traveling in the opposite direction. At the time of the collision a transport driver was taking evasive action to avoid a vehicle turning in front of him and collided with the cruiser.

November, about 61 years ago...

Detective Sergeant

John H. Bassett

Metropolitan Toronto Police

November 30th, 1963

DETAILS: Detective Bassett died when he was involved, as a passenger, in a DC-8 air crash outside Montreal. At the time of his death, Detective Sergeant Bassett was returning to Toronto from Montreal after testifying at a murder trial in the Province of Quebec.

November, about 61 years ago...

Detective

Kenneth J. Evans

Metropolitan Toronto Police

November 30th, 1963

DETAILS: Det. Evans died when he was involved, as a passenger, in a DC-8 air crash outside Montreal. At the time of his death, Detective Evans was returning to Toronto from Montreal after testifying at a murder trial in the Province of Quebec.

August, about 61 years ago...

Constable

Arthur T. Truman

Metropolitan Toronto Police

August 2nd, 1963

DETAILS: Constable Truman died as a result of injuries received in a motor vehicle collision while riding his police motorcycle at the intersection of Lansdowne Avenue and Seaforth Avenue.

February, about 62 years ago...

Constable

Frederick J. Nash

Metropolitan Toronto Police

February 12th, 1962

DETAILS: On February 12, 1962 Constable Nash made a routine stop of a vehicle on Danforth near Dawes Road. It was Nash's bad luck to have stopped heavily armed Ronald Turpin. After Turpin's first shot, Constable Nash fell to the ground and Turpin stood over the officer's body and pumped another three shots into him. Nash was able to remove his service revolver and fired three shots, hitting Turpin twice in the arms and once in the neck.

March, about 63 years ago...

Constable

Theodore D. Christiansen

Metropolitan Toronto Police

March 25th, 1961

DETAILS: Constable Christiansen died as a result of injuries received when his police motorcycle was involved in a collision with a vehicle on Keele Street.

July, about 65 years ago...

Constable

John B. Perkins

Metropolitan Toronto Police

July 7th, 1959

DETAILS: Constable Perkins died as a result of injuries received when the police motorcycle he was riding was involved in a collision with another vehicle at Wellesley and Sherbourne Streets.

October, about 72 years ago...

Detective Sergeant

James Priest

Toronto Police

October 13th, 1952

DETAILS: Detective Sergeant Priest, while attempting to raise an overhead door in order to apprehend a suspect at the scene of a break and enter, suffered a fatal heart seizure.

March, about 72 years ago...

Sergeant of Detectives

Edmond Tong

Toronto Police

March 23rd, 1952

DETAILS: On March 4, 1952, the Bank of Montreal, College Street and Manning Avenue Branch, was held up by three men who obtained $24,696 and made their escape in an automobile. About 1315 hours, March 6, 1952 two Toronto police officers, Sergeant of Detectives Edmond Tong and Detective Sergeant Roy Perry were on patrol in a cruiser when they saw a black sedan which answered the description of the car. After following the car for some time the cruiser drove alongside and Sergeant Tong, who was riding escort, lowered his window and called to the two men to pull over to the curb. Sergeant Tong then left the cruiser and walked over to the side of the car. He had covered half the distance between the two vehicles when the driver of the wanted automobile fired a shot and the officer fell to the road. Detective Sergeant Perry was also wounded in the arm and the suspects escaped.

June, about 73 years ago...

Sergeant

Robert J. Battersby

Toronto Police

June 22nd, 1951

DETAILS: Was fatally injured when he was electrocuted while investigating fallen hydro wires.

March, about 74 years ago...

Constable

Cecil Holden

Toronto Police

March 18th, 1950

DETAILS: While off duty and in plain clothes, Constable Holden attempted to break up an assault on a teenager. He suffered a heart attack and subsequently died.

December, about 79 years ago...

Constable

Robert A. Wright

Toronto Police

December 22nd, 1945

DETAILS: While directing traffic on December 21, Constable Wright was struck by a motor vehicle and fatally injured.

September, about 81 years ago...

Constable

Charles F. Hainer

Toronto Police

September 18th, 1943

DETAILS: Constable Hainer was fatally injured when he lost control of the police motorcycle he was driving and crashed into another vehicle.

August, about 82 years ago...

Constable

John W. Scott

Toronto Police

August 12th, 1942

DETAILS: Constable Scott was killed when involved in a traffic accident while on duty.

April, about 86 years ago...

Detective

James Watson

Toronto Police

April 30th, 1938

DETAILS: Detective Watson died as a result of injuries received in a motor vehicle collision.

May, about 89 years ago...

Constable

Edward Knox

Toronto Police

May 10th, 1935

DETAILS: Constable Edward Knox was assigned to plain clothes duty out of the Claremont station of Toronto police. He was patrolling the warehouse area along the western gap of Toronto harbour on a night which was blanketed in thick dense fog. During his patrol he missed a curve in the road along Fleet Street, driving the cruiser over the sea wall. The cruiser was found after day break, hung up on the railing, dangling over the water, with the driver door open. Constable Knox was pulled from the water one hour after the search began.

April, about 89 years ago...

Constable

Edward McMaster

Toronto Police

April 24th, 1935

DETAILS: Constable McMaster was born in Georgetown, Halton District DOB 7 August 1904, Parents Robert & Annie (Hotop) McMaster Youngest of seven (7) children, Samuel (a former TTC Commissioner), Ethel, Robert Detective, Toronto Police, Wilfred, Ivy, & Elsie McMaster. Joined Toronto Police on 6 Mar 1928, Badge # 775. He was assigned to the Central Police Garage for five years doing traffic duties. While on patrol on 24 April 1935 a florist delivery truck ran the intersection at Peter and King in Toronto, striking McMaster's motorcycle. He was thrown to the sidewalk sticking his head. He later died at Toronto General Hospital from his injuries. He was laid to rest in the family plot in Glen Williams Ontario, beside his father Robert Sr. who had passed away just two weeks prior to the accident that took Edwards life.

December, about 92 years ago...

Constable

Joseph De Ferrari

Toronto Police

December 31st, 1932

DETAILS: Cst. DeFerrari was on patrol when a vehicle being driven by an impaired driver struck his motorcycle.

December, about 94 years ago...

Constable

Roy McQuillin

Toronto Police

December 11th, 1930

DETAILS: On December 11, at approximately 1920 hours, Constable McQuillin was riddled with bullets from a revolver in the hands of a young thief who was driving a stolen car. The vehicle had been pursued and forced to the roadside at Scarlett Road and East Drive in York Township by a police cruiser driven by Constable Haliburton, accompanied by McQuillin. The wounded Constable, was rushed to the General Hospital in a passing car, died before reaching the hospital. The young gunman and his companion who was in the back seat of the stolen car, made their escape after first staging a revolver duel with Constable Haliburton.

November, about 96 years ago...

Constable

Albert E. Fisher

Toronto Police

November 11th, 1928

DETAILS: Constable Fisher died from injuries received November 9, 1928, while riding in a police motorcycle sidecar. No further information is available.

November, about 106 years ago...

Detective

Frank A. Williams

Toronto Police

November 19th, 1918

DETAILS: 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.

March, about 116 years ago...

Constable

John Acton

Toronto Police

March 27th, 1908

DETAILS: In June 1907, while making an arrest, Cst. Acton was jumped and badly beaten by a gang of thugs in the laneway behind the Majestic Hotel in Toronto. As a result of his injuries, he went off work and was under a doctor's care for months. He returned back to work for a short time, but was not well enough and was forced off work. Six weeks prior to his death, he was hospitalized and never recovered. He joined the police force in June 1904 and was single at the time of his death. His death registration indicates he died from complications of pneumonia, which was very common with injuries to the rib area and the inability to breathe deeply.