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Editorial – You would think it would fade with time.
You believe that, then you start to remember and realize it’s just as fresh now as it was then.
May 15, 2004 was the day Cobourg Police Constable Chris Garrett was murdered in the early hours after responding to a phoney robbery call at the former hospital that was abandoned at the time on Chapel and D’Arcy Street in Cobourg.
Though mortally wounded Garrett fired his service weapon striking his assailant in the leg. It was that fortitude, that heroism that saved countless lives in the early morning hours.
Knowing Garrett a little, I don’t think he would want to be known as a hero, but he was. He sure as hell would never want to be known as a victim.
Garrett’s murderer had many things planned for that evening. Chris Garrett badge #221 stopped all that.
This year, due to COVID, there is no gathering at Chris Garrett Memorial Park. No reminiscing about good times, the laughs, and seeing friends that may not get together as often as people would like.
There is no seeing Chris’ mother Evelyn, who always greets everyone with a smile and a warm hug.
This year, like last year is certainly different.
But the memory of what happened that evening will remain with everyone who was in this community when it happened and the days following.
Tonight (May 14, 2021) just after the starting of their shift, members of C Platoon of the Cobourg Police Service met at Chris Garrett Memorial Park just as the sun was setting.
They met to remember the former Cobourg Police Officer who should never be forgotten in the history of this town.
Sgt. Randy Curr, Constable Jay Salisbury and Constable Amrit Gill stood by Hero’s Flight and saluted (two metres apart) their fallen comrade.
It was an honour to be in attendance.
To pause and remember a good cop who protected the community he served with his life.
Curr remembers being called in to work following the murder. Every member of the service did their job the days following – but it was almost a sense of disbelief. Just going through the motions.
Gill was 10-years-old, but remembers vividly when Garrett was murdered. He’d always wanted to be a cop so when Garrett was killed, even at 10, he felt it. And listens to stories from that night to learn more about Chris Garrett.
As years pass, my only wish, that I’ve always held onto hope that it will happen someday is that St. Mary Secondary Catholic School takes on a roll of mentorship to Chris Garrett Memorial Park.
The school is located directly beside the park. It could be a horticultural class, combined with something in the form of policing. Learn about history so it never happens again.
We owe it to Chris, his family and fellow officer to never forget.
So as the sun comes up on May 15, 2021, take time out of your day to remember a good cop – Chris Garrett #221.
2020 Editorial Explaining What Happened
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
