The Vancouver Police Department has been in existence since 1886. Since that time, 16 officers have been killed in the line of duty. They were husbands, fathers, brothers, and sons, and their sacrifice will not be forgotten.

lewis-byers
Constable
Lewis Byers
March 25, 1912
james-archibald
Constable
James Archibald
May 28, 1913
john-mcmenomy
Constable
John McMenomy
November 1, 1913
richard-levis
Detective
Richard Levis
August 29, 1914
malcolm-maclennan
Chief Constable
Malcolm MacLennan
March 20, 1917
robert-mcbeath
Constable
Robert McBeath V.C.
October 9, 1922
ernest-sargent
Constable
Ernest Sargent
November 10, 1927
joseph-reilly
Constable
Joseph Reilly
December 23, 1932
charles-boyes
Constable
Charles Boyes
February 26, 1947
oliver-ledingham
Constable
Oliver Ledingham
February 26, 1947
gordon-sinclair
Constable
Gordon Sinclair
December 7, 1955
lawrence-short
Detective
Lawrence Short
February 9, 1962
arthur-trentham
Reserve Inspector
Arthur “Stan” Trentham
September 16, 1963
larry-esau
Constable
Larry Esau
June 29, 1966
paul-sanghera
Constable
Paul Sanghera
January 8, 1982
larry-young
Sergeant
Larry Young
February 2, 1987

The research and original writing of the profiles of the VPD’s fallen officers was done by now-retired VPD Sergeant Steve Gibson and Constable Tod Catchpole.

The Memorial project was made possible with the generous support of the Vancouver Police Foundation.

The Vancouver Police Museum provided the photographs and assisted with the research.

VPD Officer Ensures Headstones

Acknowledge Officers’ Ultimate Sacrifice

In September 2009, Vancouver Police Constable Bill Taylor drove by a small cemetery outside Ottawa and saw four police officers laying a wreath at a grave. He learned this was an annual event to honour members from their police force who had died in the line of duty.

When he returned home, Constable Taylor researched the final resting places for the 16 Vancouver Police officers who have been killed in the line of duty, and discovered that some were buried in long-forgotten locations. Over the next two years, he made it his mission to find out where those unknown final resting places were.

Once the gravesites were located, Constable Taylor visited each one, and noticed that none of the headstones acknowledged the ultimate sacrifice of the fallen officers. He sought funding for additional grave markers, with approval from family members, and thanks to a grant from the Vancouver Police Foundation, he was able to purchase the headstones, giving the officers the honour they were due.

We will never forget.

Video: Police and Peace Officers’ Memorial