Constable Jeremiah Dunn
Newfoundland Constabulary
On October 22, 1861 at approximately 11:00 p.m. Constable Dunn was on patrol at the town of Harbour Grace in the company of three other police officers. According to Fox (1971) they encountered two men who appeared to be under the influence of alcohol. The men were advised to go home. The men refused and the police officers decided to take them into custody. They succeeded in taking one of the men into custody. The officer in charge sensed further trouble and summonsed reinforcements. They proceeded to make the second arrest. By this time a large crowd had assembled and were hurling stones at the police officers. Several of the police officers were struck. Constable Dunn was hit on the head by a stone that was thrown by one of the men. He died on October 27, 1861 as a result of the injury that was inflicted.
A Coroner’s Jury was convened and it was concluded that Constable Dunn’s death was murder. No person was ever convicted in relation to this crime.
Chief Cst. Charles Calpin
Terra Nova Constabulary
On August 9, 1870 in Bay Roberts Charles Calpin died in the performance of his duty as Chief Constable from the accidental discharge of his gun while destroying a dog which had severely bitten a young child.
Sergeant Thomas Fennessey
Newfoundland Constabulary
The Report of the Inspector of Newfoundland Constabulary for the Year Ending 31st December 1884 was submitted and appears in the Journal of the Newfoundland House of Assembly 1885. Inspector General Carty reports "It is with great regret that I have to refer to the death of Sergeant Thomas Fennessey, who was accidentally smothered in the snow while going his rounds on duty at Betts Cove, on 27th January, 1884."
No other details have been determined at this time, although the incident is also mentioned by Fox (1971).
Ranger Danny Corcoran Regimental # 14
Newfoundland Rangers
Ranger Corcoran died on April 7, 1936. He had been assigned to the Harbour Deep detachment when he went on an extended cross-country patrol across the Great Northern Peninsula. This type of patrol was customary to members of the Newfoundland Rangers, who patrolled extensive and remote jurisdictions, frequently by boat, dog-sled, or on foot. During this particular patrol it had been his intention to cross the Great Northern Peninsula to meet up with the Ranger in an adjoining detachment. The terrain was difficult because of the spring breakup and before reaching his destination he decided to return to Harbour Deep. When he did not return to Harbour Deep it was believed that he had become lost in the wilderness and was reported missing to Ranger Headquarters. Searches were organized and he could not be found. The Ranger from the Englee Detachment decided to organize a search of the eastern side of the peninsula and it was during this search that Ranger Corcoran was found alive. At this point he had been missing almost one month and was in very poor condition. When he had been no longer able to walk, he crawled. He had worn out his hands and part of his equipment. He was unable to move when found.
It was determined that Ranger Corcoran had almost made it to Harbour Deep when he had broken through ice soaking his feet. The following night there was a hard frost and his feet became frozen. He continued and became trapped on a small peninsula because of breaking ice. This is where he was found.
Ranger Corcoran was carried out and taken to St. Anthony where the Grenfell doctor had to amputate his feet. It was determined that he had contracted tetanus. The doctor ordered tetanus anti-toxin from St. John’s but it failed to arrive before Ranger Corcoran had died.
Corporal Michael Greene, Regimental # 49
Newfoundland Rangers
The second member of the Newfoundland Rangers to die on duty occurred near Lamaline in March 1, 1939. Corporal Greene had been on patrol to the end of his district at Danzic Point and was returning to Lamaline when his horse and slide broke through the ice. Searchers found Corporal Greene’s body about 100 yards from where the horse and slide went through the ice.
Customs Officer George A. Jackman
His Majesty's Customs Newfoundland
On January 18, 1943 Customs Officer George A. Jackman vanished while searching a Portuguese vessel in St. John's harbour during the Second World War.
Ranger Michael Collins, Regimental # 166
Newfoundland Rangers
Ranger Michael Collins died at Stephenville, Newfoundland on August 8, 1946. His death resulted from injuries received in an on duty motorcycle accident that had occurred at Indian Head on the Port au Port Peninsula on the evening of August 7, 1946. Another Ranger who had been in the sidecar was not seriously injured.
Cst. Francis P. Stamp
Newfoundland Constabulary
Francis Stamp was born January 14th, 1904 at St. John's and joined the Newfoundland Constabulary February 16th, 1925. Stamp was an excellent Newfoundland Boxer (was Light Heavyweight Champion of Newfoundland in 1929). On August 27, 1930 he resigned from the police force to go to Boston to fight professionally and boxed there for 2 years. He returned to the Newfoundland Constabulary from Boston August 22nd, 1932 and served in police force as an excellent Patrol Officer from 1932 until his untimely death in 1954.
On May 27th, 1954 at 1:35am, while on night shift, Stamp died from a severe heart attack in the old police station on Water Street in the arms of Cst. Bill Daley. Stamp and Cst. Bert Tucker had just arrested two American Servicemen for assault on New Gower Street. One of the Servicemen ran from the scene and Stamp and Tucker took chase. Undoubtedly the chase contributed to Stamp’s death. He was 50 years of age at time of death and a very well respected and liked police officer.
Cst. John Terrance Hoey
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Cst. Terry Hoey was 21 years old when he was serving in Botwood, November 6, 1958. Cst. Hoey, along with two other RCMP members, responded to a domestic dispute between the owner of a local restaurant and his son. After getting no response from inside the living quarters of the restaurant and fearing for the son's life, the three members entered a side window and knocked on the living room door. They received no answer and found the door had been heavily barricaded. They called out to the owner and asked him to open the door. Immediately a shotgun blast ripped through the wood of the closed door striking Cst. Hoey in the chest. He died at the scene.
Cst. William Moss
Newfoundland Constabulary
Cst. William Moss was tragically killed in March 12, 1959 during the International Woodworkers of America strike at Badger that eventually became known as the "Badger Riot". Cst. Moss was struck on the head with a piece of pulpwood during a melee on March 10, 1959. He was taken to a hospital in Grand Falls but died two days later.
Cst. Robert W. Amey
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Cst Robert Amey was 24 years old when he was killed December 17, 1964 in Whitbourne. Four men broke out of Her Majesty's Penitentiary in St. John's. They stole a car and headed west along the Trans-Canada Highway. Near Whitbourne, they ran through an RCMP roadblock that had been set up by Constables David Keith and Robert Amey. A chase ensued, and the four fugitives soon abandoned their car and ran for cover. They were discovered hiding in Whitbourne. Even though they were cornered, they refused to surrender. Amey went to the car radio and called for help. When Amey was in the cruiser, the four rushed Cst. Keith and after beating him severely, took away his service revolver. When Amey came running back, he could see that Keith was down and one of the fugitives was armed. Amey attempted to hold the prisoners at gun point but the fugitive fired three shots, one of which hit Amey in the chest, killing him instantly. Using Amey's gun, Cst. Keith was able to arrest the all four fugitives.
Assistant Forest Ranger Silas Baikie
Wildlife Division, Newfoundland Department of Natural Resources
Mr. Baikie died on December 16, 1969 in a boating accident at Charleys Point in Lake Melville Labrador while on a Wild patrol with Bernard Chaulk.
Fishery Guardian Calvin Augustus Swyers
Fisheries & Oceans Canada
On Saturday, June 2, 1973, Fishery Guardian Calvin Augustus Swyers, 31, and Fishery Guardian John Young, 58, were killed when their chartered helicopter, in which they were patrolling, got caught in an unexpected storm with high winds and heavy rain, causing it to crash and catch fire. The accident happened in the South West Brook area near Barachois Pond Park. Pilot David Johns of Ottawa was also killed in the crash.
Fishery Guardian John Young
Fisheries & Oceans Canada
On Saturday, June 2, 1973, Fishery Guardian John Young, 58, and Fishery Guardian Calvin Augustus Swyers, 31, were killed when their chartered helicopter, in which they were patrolling, got caught in an unexpected storm with high winds and heavy rain, causing it to crash and catch fire. The accident happened in the South West Brook area near Barachois Pond Park. Pilot David Johns of Ottawa was also killed in the crash.
Forest Ranger Gary Noseworthy
Wildlife Division, Newfoundland Department of Natural Resources
In August 1975 while working with the Forest Fire Patrol in Wabush, Labrador a plane crash claimed Forest Ranger Gary Noseworthy's life.
Forest Ranger Carl Francis George
Wildlife Division, Newfoundland Department of Natural Resources
In August 1975 while working with the Forest Fire Patrol in Wabush, Labrador a plane crash claimed Forest Ranger Carl George's life.
Fishery Officer Joseph V. Tremblett
Fisheries & Oceans Canada
On Wednesday, August 5,1981, Fishery Officer Joseph V. Tremblett, 42, was patrolling on the shores of Lake Melville, Labrador when he slipped off the rocks into an area of deep water with a strong tide. At the time he was wearing hip waders which prevented him from reaching shore and he subsequently drowned. Divers later recovered his body.
Cst. Samuel Jeffers
Newfoundland Constabulary
Cst. Samuel Jeffers, at the age of 26 on September 18, 1957, was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident while on duty at Rawlin's Cross in St. John's. Cst. Jeffers, who never recovered from the head injuries he sustained, spent the next 43 years at the Waterford Hospital, dying there September 4, 2000.
THEY ARE OUR HEROES.
WE SHALL NOT FORGET THEM.