Thousands honour slain police officer
Reporter THE Canadian town of Abbotsford ground to a halt as thousands turned out to pay their respects to a former Northumbria Police officer who was gunned down in the line of duty.
John Davidson, 53, worked for the North East force for 12 years before moving to the Canadian province of British Columbia in 2006 and joining the Abbotsford Police Department.
The father-of-three was responding to reports of a possible stolen vehicle and gunfire when he was shot and killed on November 6.
Representatives of Northumbria Police were present for Sunday’s service, which came at the end of a spectacular procession of hundreds of Canadian officers in formal dress.
Sergeant Jason Scott, a friend and colleague who served alongside John in the Abbotsford police force, opened the memorial service.
He said: “We are here to celebrate a hero who had love for his family, friends and everyone who knew him, a hero who made a difference in this community in so many ways.
“Behind the uniform, he was a man that people admired and whose kindness was never lost on anybody.
“When people pass, you always hear people say ‘what a great guy that person was’ – this could not ring truer for John.”
Constable Renae Williams, who worked as John’s partner, said he was the “best of the best”.
In an emotional testimony, she said: “He was a man who hated guns and was never comfortable having one, but he was the first to intervene and step in when shots were fired and he made the ultimate sacrifice.”
One of six children born in Scotland in 1963, John went on to study physical education in London and maintained a lifelong love for sport and fitness.
He worked as a teacher before joining Northumbria Police’s motor patrol unit in the mid-90s and moved to Whitley Bay where he raised his family with wife Denise.
Northumbria Police were represented at the service by temporary chief constable Winton Keenen, Jim Gray, chairman of Northumbria Police Federation, and DC Keith Howells.
Mr Keenen said: “When you join Northumbria Police you become a member of the force family and you remain so when you leave.
“It was therefore a great honour and privilege to represent the Force and wider Northumbria community at John’s funeral on Sunday.
“We must all take the time to reflect on the sacrifice John made while going about the duty of public service we all hold so very close to our hearts.”