Officers of 22 Division have joined their Canadian police colleagues in mourning the loss of Calgary policeman Andrew Harnett, who was killed on New Year’s Eve in a hit and run crash.

For Toronto Const. Matthew Saade, who now works at 51 Division, it was a emotional time as he has previously worked with Harnett, who has been working as a Calgary cop for 12-years.

Sgt. Harnett, 37, was his partner for six years during his stint in Calgary.

Saade was photographed saluting the Canadian flag, which has been flying at half-mast outside the downtown station.

Toronto Police Chief Jim Ramer, on behalf of his officers, expressed condolences to Harnett’s family.

“I want to express our deepest condolences to family, friends and colleagues of Sargent Harnett,” the Chief said.
A police webpage was filled with hundreds of regrets and condolences for Harnett and his family and friends from officers from across Canada and the U.S.

It was on December 31 just before 11 p.m., when Harnett had pulled over the vehicle after running the license plate and discovering it didn’t match the SUV.

He spoke with both the driver and passenger before the vehicle fled, striking and dragging Harnett, who was described by Calgary Police Chief Mark Neufeld as a “highly decorated” 12-year member of the Calgary Police Service.

Despite the “desperate” attempts of fellow officers and paramedics, Harnett died at the scene, according to Calgary police.

Two men, one 17 and the other, 19, have since turned themselves in. Police had issued a province-wide dragnet for their arrests. They face first degree murder charges in the death of the officer.

Officer Harnett is remembered as having a “passion to serve,” and his love for policing developed during his early years in his hometown of Hagersville.

“He was born to be a police officer and he knew it,” his brother Jason Harnett told CTV News. “He just had a passion to serve. There was right and wrong, and he really believed in that.”

Harnett was a volunteer member of Crime Stoppers while a student at Hagersville Secondary School. He also served as a military police officer.

He is the 12th officer to be killed in the history of the Calgary Police Service, dating back to 1878. The last officer who lost his life while on duty was Const. Darren Beatty, who died in 2001 during a training exercise.

Funeral arrangements are being finalized.

It has been a violent 2021 for police so far and it is only the first day of the year.

Toronto Police were scouring the streets of Mimico for evidence as they responded to one of 2021’s two stabbings that occurred early New Year’s day.

Shortly after 1 a.m. officers were dispatched to a stabbing that took place at Mimico Ave. and Lake Shore Blvd. W.

“Officers located an adult male with stab wound,” according to a police tweet. “The man was taken to hospital. The suspect fled on foot.”

Police describe the suspect as a male white, in his 60s, with a red hat and white hair.

The victim was treated in hospital and is expected to survive.

Hours later at 6:50 a.m. officers were called to deal with another stabbing in the Queen St. W., and Dunn Ave., in the Parkdale area.

Police said in that attack a man was suffered multiple stab wounds. He is expected to survive.

One man is in custody.

The Mimico incident brought back bad memories for residents of a shooting last August at the same spot.  In that case, a man was shot several times in the same area by a shooter who fled on foot.

The victim survived and the shooter is still at large.

And, on December 30 a local man was shot by police for allegedly waving an axe or hatchet near Lake Shore Blvd. W. and Twenty Fourth Street, in Long Branch.

The Special Investigations Unit is investigating the incident that sent a 30-year-old victim to hospital with serious gunshot wounds.

An Etobicoke pastor has started a Go Fund Me page that has raised almost $50,000 for a colleague who was charged by Windsor Police Service for allegedly opening his church to prayer services after it was ordered shut to avert the spread of COVID-19.

Dr. Tony Costa’s Go Fund Me page has raised almost more than the $50,000 they require to fight a provincial charge of violating the Reopening Ontario Act for holding services on December 24.

The Harvest Bible Church, in Windsor, was visited by police and a charge of being open, in violation of provincial guidelines, was laid against Rev. Dr. Aaron Rock.

Costa says he’s known Rock, described as a man of ‘Godly conviction,’ for more than 15-years and they have pastored together in Canada and overseas.

“Aaron decided to open his church for the many who were hurting, depressed, anxious, under employed and some with suicidal ideations to provide a haven of support and ministry outreach,” Costa wrote on social media.

Police warned church officials that they face charges for attending church on Christmas Eve.

Rock’s church calls the charge a “national disgrace” and says that “barring Christian worship and public protests is discriminatory and unfair.”

If found guilty, Rock can be fined up to $100,000 or imprisoned for a year.

The churches plan to fight the charge and has called on congregation members of various area churches for donations to obtain legal counsel.

“Pastor Aaron’s fight is not just his alone,” Costa says. “He is fighting for the right of all churches to open and enjoy the freedoms to do so in accordance with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.”
Rock says he was “humbled by this outpouring of support as we stand against injustice for all.”
A Professor at the Toronto Baptist Seminary and the Pastor & Pulpit Ministry, he thanked the congregation for their support and will fight the charge.

This news comes after the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit medical officer of health, Dr. Wajid Ahmed, said in a release last week that he is “not recommending in-person gatherings of any kind due to the high risk of disease transmission.”

The church said that police promised to bar the congregation from entering on Christmas Eve. It said the banning of Christian worship is “discriminatory and unfair.”

Under grey-lockdown restrictions in Windsor-Essex, Ahmed said if religious institutions are moving forward with in-person gatherings, they must be limited to 10 people at any time, including officiants, parishioners and staff.

The charges against a respected pastor has angered many churchgoers online.

“We stand with you Aaron & Susie Rock,” says Irene Teichroeb, of Mexico, who made a donation.

“Church is essential.”

“Stay strong and thanks for being a voice of reason,” Anbnita Reume said on social media.

Joyce Zhu says she “supports Rock for the sake of our community and our country.”

Alexander Leslie was among the many who made donations.

“God bless you in your fight for justice, for the Church and ultimately for the gospel,”Leslie posted. “Never forget Christ is with you and so are your brethren.”

With more people at home these days, police are warning of an escalating phone scam in which callers claim to be from the Ontario Energy Board (OEB) to try and scam you for your money.

The conmen makes a pitch that you can obtain a green rebate for purchasing COVID-19 relief.

The OPP have received more than 710 complaints about energy scams this year from across Ontario.

In most cases, a homeowner is contacted by telephone by someone requesting to conduct a green energy assessment in person.

This would be to qualify for a green energy rebate or Ontario Rebate Program for COVID-19 relief.

Once in the home, the representative uses high pressure sales tactics to have the homeowner purchase products and services in order to qualify for the rebate, police say.

The OEB says it doesn’t engage and isn’t involved in any type of sales activity.

The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre in 2019 received 1,641 complaints related to service scams affecting 863 Ontario residents, for a loss of $2,878,898.

On March 1, 2018, Ontario banned unsolicited, door-to-door sales of certain household appliances to better protect consumers from aggressive and misleading contracting at home.

The new rules apply to air cleaners, air conditioners, air purifiers, duct cleaning services, furnaces, water filters, water heaters, water purifiers, water softeners, water treatment devices as well as bundles of these goods and services.

On January 1, 2017, Ontario banned energy retailers from signing up customers for an energy contract while at their homes to give consumers the ability to make choices about their energy supply at their own pace and with better information.

The OPP since October have received an increased number of complaints from homeowners who have been solicited by individuals claiming to be associated with the OEB.

Door‐to‐door scams continue to pose a threat to Ontario consumers and businesses. Consumers may find themselves in a situation where they purchase a product or sign up for a service contract they neither need nor want.

If you believe you have become a victim of fraud, contact your local police service and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 (toll-free) or report online at www.antifraudcentre.ca. You can also call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or report the incident online at www.ontariocrimestoppers.ca.

 

Mom ‘n Pop stores in the area are getting dinged again.

Struggling small businesses in the community are following all health guidelines as they brace up for a second-wave COVID-19 lockdown and possibly closure.

The latest lockdown, which will begin on midnight December 26, will affect the entire province and will last for 28 days in southern Ontario and two weeks in the northern regions.

Many local businesses and agencies have laid off staff or cut hours to survive as many people stay at home due to COVID-19.

The parking lots of some of our malls as Cloverdale and Sherway Gardens show many empty parking spots as only curbside or pickup are available at some stores.

There were however constant lineups at Walmart and Costco, deemed essential merchandisers

At the same time the sidewalks are empty in Long Branch, New Toronto and Mimico as many small stores are forced to shut.

Under this lockdown, the provincial government will allow in-person shopping at supermarkets, convenience stores and pharmacies. The businesses must cap the number of customers to 50 per cent of approved capacity.

Discount and big-box businesses that sell groceries can operate, but capacity is limited to 25 per cent of the approved capacity “of the particular room.”

The lockdown will shut all non-essential businesses, ban indoor gatherings, close restaurant dining rooms, and see all schools move classes online for the first week of 2021.

Publicly-funded schools in southern Ontario will be closed for at least two weeks. Elementary students will take part in virtual learning until at least Jan. 11, while secondary students will learn remotely until Jan. 25.

Other retail businesses, hardware stores and department stores will only be allowed to open for curbside pickup and delivery. Customers will not be allowed inside to do in-person retail shopping.

Officials said the lockdown will be evaluated after 28 days to determine if it is safe to lift the restrictions.

Doctors warn that trips outside of the home should only be done for essential reasons as work, school, groceries, exercise, caring for vulnerable people. Social gatherings and organized indoor events are restricted except for people who live in the same home.

Indoor dining and outdoor at restaurants and bars are also prohibited. Night clubs and strip clubs are only permitted to open if they operate as a food or drink establishment, in which case they would only be allowed to provide takeout, pickup or delivery.

All indoor and outdoor sports and recreational fitness facilities will be closed, with exceptions for those being used by “high performance athletes”. Ski hills must closed. All locker rooms, change rooms and showers at clubhouses are closed.

Horse racing open for training only, no members of the public.

Businesses that produce, manufacture or distribute food and beverage, including agricultural products, may remain open. All construction activities and services will be allowed to continue.

Cannabis retail stores and garden centres can only open for curbside pickup or delivery.  Outdoor markets, including holiday-themed events, are closed unless they primarily sell food.

Weddings, funerals and other religious services limited to 10 people indoors, 10 people outdoors. Virtual and drive-in services, rites and ceremonies permitted.

Supply chains, including businesses that work in processing, packaging, warehousing, distribution, delivery, and maintenance can remain open.

Meeting and event spaces open only for operation of child care, court services, government sources, mental health and addiction support services, social services.

So are  rental and leasing services, including automobile, commercial and light industrial machinery or equipment.

 

A Brampton tow truck driver has been selected by the prestigious U.S. Carnegie Hero Fund Commission for saving the lives of three people injured in a ‘violent car crash’ seconds before the vehicle erupted in flames.

Harmanjeet Singh Gill, 20, was driving in August 2018, in Brampton when he saw a violent crash in which an SUV struck several vehicles and landed on its driver’s side a few feet from a house, according to Peel Regional Police.

“Large flames burned at the vehicle’s rear, and Gill responded to the scene,” according to police.

Gill extended his head and arms through the car’s sunroof and pulled one of the three men inside to safety.

“He returned to the vehicle and dragged a second man to safety,” the Commission was told.

They noted that Gill had problems removing a third man.

“With the help of a teen who also responded to the scene, Gill broke the sunroof to create a larger opening,” the body heard. “They then pulled the third man to safety.”

“The car was shortly engulfed in flames, which spread to another car and impinged on the house,” police said.

Peel Regional Police last week invited members of the public to celebrate the heroic and courageous efforts of the internationally-recognized driver.

His heroic actions was acknowledged by Peel Police and the Commission, which earned him the prestigious Carnegie Medal, which has been presented to heroes in the U.S. and Canada for more than 100 years.

Gill was among 17 Carnegie Medal recipients announced by the Commission on December 14.

“Harmanjeet did not hesitate,” Commission members said. “His selflessness and commitment to save the trapped men’s lives exude genuine empathy at humanity’s highest level.’

The fund was established by Pittsburgh steelmaker Andrew Carnegie who believed in ‘recognizing heroes decades before the disaster that served as the impetus for the creation for the Hero Fund.’

The fund was created in 1904 and recognizes heroes, who are selected by a 21-member commission, in the U.S. and Canada. All the winners committed extraordinary deeds, some rescued their elderly neighbours from blazing homes or others from horrific car accidents.

Those who are selected for recognition by the Commission are awarded the Carnegie Medal, and they, or their survivors, become eligible for financial considerations, including one-time grants, scholarship aid, death benefits and continuing assistance.

To date, more than 10,000 medals have been awarded, the recipients selected from more than 100,000 nominees. About 20 percent of the Medals are awarded posthumously.