Fallen officer remembered as man dedicated to family and work
As evidence markers and police tape were packed up in the northeast community of Falconridge on New Year's Day, community members began laying vibrant bouquets at a makeshift memorial to honour the Calgary police officer who was killed just hours earlier.
“Thank you” is written on a small blue balloon in tribute of Sgt. Andrew Harnett, who conducted a traffic stop that turned fatal in the final hours of 2020, just steps from the growing pile of flowers.
The 12-year veteran of the force is being remembered by his loved ones as a dedicated family man and passionate police officer with “an unbelievable sense of humour.”
“He was the youngest. We always used to wrestle and one day he grew up bigger than all of us and none of us messed around with him after that,” his elder brother, Jason Harnett, said over the phone from Ontario.
“A lot of us struggled to know what to do in life. He knew from a very young age that's what he wanted to be. He wanted to get into policing so bad.”
He said his younger brother did everything he could to make his way to policing, including volunteering with Crime Stoppers and making connections in nearby police departments.
It was what led him to serve as a military police officer for 21/2 years before joining the force in Calgary in 2008.
Jason said he “loved” the city and had made it home with his partner of five years. “They were going to have a real future together,” he said, his voice shaking.
“She just adored Andrew.” He spoke fondly about the last trip his brother had made to Muskoka, Ont., about three years ago.
They had spent time boating on the water nearby, “being silly” and “enjoying time together.”
It's a memory he said he'll hold on to as he grieves his brother's death.
“It was a real blessing to be able to have him back,” he said. “Obviously, now we look at it as a gift.”
Police said the sergeant was struck by a fleeing vehicle as he conducted a traffic stop just before 11 p.m. on New Year's Eve in the area of Falconridge Boulevard and Falconridge Drive N.E. Emergency responders and colleagues rendered first aid but their efforts were unsuccessful.
He died shortly after as a result of his injuries.
“Today is the day that I've had nightmares about, having to stand in front of you, our membership and the public to announce the loss of one of our officers, one of our guardians and unquestionably one of the best,” Police Chief Mark Neufeld said Friday.
“I can say here and now without the least bit of hesitation that he was an outstanding police officer, an outstanding leader and an outstanding person."
John Orr, president of the Calgary Police Association, said the “cowardly act” took the life of an exemplary police officer.
“Andrew did not do this for praise or personal gain but did so because he has a deep commitment to service in his community. 2020 was a difficult year for police officers everywhere and Calgary was no exception,” said Orr.
“No matter how hard things get for our members they will always honour the oath they took to protect their fellow citizens.
“He made the ultimate sacrifice while fulfilling his oath to protect Calgarians.”
Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi said the loss is “profoundly sad” but he is “deeply grateful” Calgarians were able to receive the gift of his service.
“He spent his life serving — first serving his country in uniform as a member of the Canadian Armed Forces and then looking after the city and, here in District 5, keeping my neighbourhood safe,” said Nenshi. “Police officers are special because they look after us, they keep us safe, they go to danger when the rest of us leave and sometimes they deal with the worst elements of our community in order to protect the best elements of our community.”
Former Calgary Stampeder Rob Maver came to know Harnett well when he was considering becoming a police officer and Harnett was doing recruitment work.
“I would do ride-alongs with him and I was always impressed with how professional, courteous he was at his job — just a kind, generous and good human,” said Maver.
He never spoke of the dangers of the job, said Maver, “but spoke of what he did fondly.”
A few weeks ago, the ex- Stampeder said he texted Harnett to ask him about morale on the force, given the difficult year it had come through.
“He said, `I've got a bulletproof vest and at the end of the day, it's about the public we serve and these things will just make us stronger,'” said Maver.
“If you had to call a police officer, he's the one you'd want to call — and then have a beer with him after.”
It has been almost two decades since a local officer has died in the line of duty.
Const. Darren Beatty, 29, was critically injured during a training exercise in 2001 and later died of his injuries in hospital.
A year earlier, Const. John Petropoulos, 32, was killed while investigating a break-in at a southeast Calgary business.
He suffered fatal head injuries after falling through a false ceiling.
The John Petropoulos Memorial Fund was created in his memory to help protect emergency responders from workplace death and injury.
Premier Jason Kenney said Harnett's death is a reminder of the risks taken by police officers every day.
“This was a terrible crime. I hope that the perpetrator is brought quickly to justice,” Kenney said online Friday afternoon, just hours before the two suspects, aged 17 and 19, being sought by police turned themselves in.
Heartfelt messages for the fallen Calgary officer flooded social media on Friday with people offering condolences from across the country, including officers serving locally.
Deputy chief Chad Tawfik with the Calgary Police Service said “words can't express the tragedy of this loss to our police family.”
He said Harnett was an “amazing leader and colleague” and was proud to serve with Calgary police to protect Calgarians.
"The impact of his loss is immeasurable,” Tawfik wrote on social media.
“No words can properly convey the loss of Andrew in the line of duty to Calgarians,” wrote Tom Sampson, former chief of the Calgary Emergency Management Agency.
“It is as if the sun went down while it was still day.”