OFFICER KILLED
Two teens have been arrested in the death of a Calgary police officer killed during traffic stop //
CALGARY — A new year dawned in Calgary with the death of a veteran city police officer allegedly struck and dragged to his death during a routine traffic stop.
The death of 37-year-old Sgt. Andrew Harnett touched off an outpouring of grief across the city Friday, as well as a manhunt for the two suspects police believe to be responsible for the New-Year’s-Eve hit and run.
“Today is the day that I have had nightmares about,” Calgary police Chief Mark Neufeld told a news conference. “I’m pissed off. It’s totally senseless.”
Police said Harnett had pulled over an SUV in the city’s northeast shortly before 11 p.m. Thursday after noticing plates on the vehicle did not match its registered description. Neufeld alleged the vehicle took off, hitting the officer and dragging him down the road.
Neufeld said a 17-year-old was believed to be behind the wheel, while a 19-year-old was likely riding as a passenger.
A second unrelated vehicle was also involved and “may have come into contact with Sgt. Harnett” on the road, Neufeld said, adding the driver of that vehicle stayed at the scene and is helping with the investigation.
Paramedics and fellow officers hastened to the scene in minutes and tried to revive Harnett, police said, but he died in hospital nearly an hour later.
A massive search soon got underway for suspects Amir Abdulrahman, 19, and the 17-yearold boy both of Calgary. The teens turned themselves in to police Friday afternoon.
Police said investigators located the SUV on Friday afternoon after receiving a tip from the public.
Neufeld said Harnett’s death reinforces the dangers law enforcement professionals face every day.
“There’s no such thing as a routine traffic stop,” he said. “There’s no such thing as a lowrisk event. There’s an unknown risk and this type of incident really sort of underscores that.”
An emotional Neufeld added that he knew Harnett personally and called his death a blow to the entire Calgary Police Service family.
Harnett joined the force 12 years ago after serving as a military police officer for 2 1/2 years. He leaves behind a spouse, Neufeld said.
“I’ve actually worked a shift with him,” Neufeld said. “A consummate professional, amazing, amazing with the public and he’s everything you’d would want in a quality police officer.”
Harnett also helped investigators identify the suspects before he died, the chief said, but gave few details.
“Part of the reason we’ve been able to progress this investigation as quickly as we have was as a direct result from some exceptional police work done by Andrew prior to his death,” Neufeld said.