Cobourg police are inviting the community to celebrate the life of Constable Chris Garrett 20 years after he was murdered in the line of duty.
The 20th anniversary celebration of Constable Garrett will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, May 15th at Chris Garrett Memorial Park on Birchwood Trail.
Welcome and remarks will be given at the beginning of the event, and the Cobourg Police Service Pipes and Drums will be in attendance. Light refreshments will be available.
A 39-year-old married father and stepfather, Garrett was murdered on May 15, 2004 — 13 years and one day after he joined the Cobourg Police Service — when officers responded to a 911 call from a reported robbery victim in the parking lot of the old Cobourg hospital at the intersection of D’Arcy and Chapel streets.
While two fellow officers searched the area for the supposed perpetrators, Garrett remained with the 18-year-old supposed victim to question him. While Garrett was taking notes, the 18-year-old attacked him with a knife. Despite suffering a mortal wound, Garrett was able pursue the attacker and fired 17 shots from his service weapon, hitting and wounding the attacker in the leg with one shot before succumbing to his injury.
Troy Davey of Cobourg was later arrested at hospital while seeking medical attention for a gunshot wound and, three years later, was convicted of first-degree murder. It was later revealed Davey had made the 911 call with the intent of murdering a police officer and had made plans to murder other police officers in the future.
In 2009, Garrett’s family accepted the Star of Courage from then Governor General Michaelle Jean in recognition that Constable Garrett’s heroic action before his death had potentially saved other lives.
The Chris Garrett Memorial Park was named in Constable Garrett’s honour. At its centre, the 5.46-acre park has a memorial statue called “Hero’s Flight,” comprising 24 birds representing the date of his death, as well as a plaque with an inscription about his life and his heroism.
The County Road 45 bridge at exit 474 over Highway 401 was also named the Cst. Chris Garrett Memorial Bridge in his honour.
