It was exactly 81 years ago that the last Sarnia police officer died in the line of duty.
Back on March 22, 1944, Constable George Roy Vanderveer passed away after being hit by a train while pursuing a vehicle southbound on Highway 40.
At the time of his death, he was an eight-year member of the Sarnia Police Service. He left behind a wife and two kids.
Vanderveer was previously recognized ahead of the 79th anniversary of his death by the Dave Mounsey Memorial Fund. A defibrillator was donated to the Sarnia Moose Lodge in honour of Vanderveer with members of his family in attendance.
Despite being the last Sarnia police officer to die in the line of duty, Vanderveer is still just the second. The first was Constable George E. J. Lewis who was killed by notorious criminal Norman “Red” Ryan in 1936 after responding to a robbery.