Hagersville Park will be known as the Sgt. Andrew Harnett Memorial Park after an official dedication ceremony Saturday morning.
Representatives from Haldimand OPP and Auxiliary, Six Nations Police Service, Brantford Police Service, Harnett’s family and the community attended the ceremony in honor of Calgary Police Sgt. Andrew Harnett, who was killed in the line of duty on Dec. 31, 2020. Harnett, 37, who grew up in Hagersville, died on New Year’s Eve, after being struck by a vehicle during a traffic stop.
“A week prior to his death we had just found out that he was going to be a father,” said Andrew’s brother Jason Harnett, who attended Saturday’s park dedication with brother Chris, who flew in from Halifax, and their mother Valerie, who still lives in Hagersville.
“Andrew’s greatest qualities included loyalty and responsibility,” said retired Hagersville Secondary School Crime Stoppers coordinator Janice Schweder. “He was the first to volunteer and the one who gave his all to get the task done.
“The 17 years that I spent leading the HSS student Crime Stoppers program were the highlight of my career, but Andrew was the star of it all. He thrived in the program because he fueled his desire to become a police officer.”
Scwheder said she followed Harnett’s accomplishments and eventual promotion to sergeant at the Calgary Police Service.
“Today, with the naming of this park in his honour, we need to remember that just as he used to run through here as a boy and teenager, the echoes of his spirit are here to remind future generations ‘follow your heart and pursue your dream, remember that great people often come from small places.’”
A red oak tree has been planted by the Hagersville Lions Club in honor of Harnett. A memorial monument will be placed at a later date.
“The Lions decided, as a memorial, we would plant a red oak tree over here in memory of Andrew,” said Albert Ribbink, Hagersville Lions Club. “The idea is that it will be a living memory of Andrew Harnett. There are already a few other oak trees here and they are doing really well in this park’s heavy clay, better than most of the others. They are very hardy, long-lived, so it could be here for 300 years.”
Jason Harnett said his brother was not officially a member of the Haldimand-Norfolk Regional Police, OPP or Auxiliary but he went on many ride-alongs.
“They were trying to determine exactly what Andrew was because he just hung out with these guys all the time. He was kind of an unofficial Auxiliary (member).”
Andrew had wanted to be a police officer from a young age, said Jason.
“That’s all he ever wanted to be. I kind of envied Andrew in that sense, he always knew what he wanted to be. That was it – he wanted to be a cop. He said, ‘I know what I want to do and I’m going to get there as quickly as possible.’”
Andrew attended Mohawk College for law and security, joined the military police in Edmonton for three and a half years before joining the Calgary force.
“Andrew had the power of bringing people together and today is another example of that,” said Jason. “When we came home after the funeral we were so proud and honored and just blown away by everyone in this community, who had ribbons on their doors, they lit up their houses with blue lights, and all the police services that helped us and were there for support – we can’t thank you enough for all of that.
“He loved being a police officer, he loved Hagersville, and he loved Alberta and Calgary as well. Thank you so much for this opportunity to share this moment with all of you, and thank you so much Hagersville.”
Jason concluded saying the Sgt. Andrew Harnett Memorial Park “is in great hands.”
“Andrew’s not here, but I can assure you that Andrew will be watching over this park.”
– With files from Postmedia