Vancouver police dog named in honour of Calgary officer who was killed on duty
A Calgary police officer killed on duty is being honoured by a Metro Vancouver Transit Police namesake — a four-legged one.
Harnett is a two-year-old German shorthaired pointer who is an explosive detection police dog. She's named for Sgt. Andrew Harnett, who was killed during a traffic stop on New Year's Eve 2020 in Calgary after an SUV he'd pulled over took off with the officer hanging onto the driver's side of the vehicle.
"We wish to thank the Metro Vancouver Transit Police for honouring Sgt. Andrew Harnett in the naming of a Police Service Dog in his memory," Calgary Police Service and Sgt. Harnett's family said in a statement.
"We will never forget the ultimate sacrifice Andrew made and it brings us comfort knowing he will be remembered in Vancouver as well."
His brother, Jason Harnett, said in a tweet that "another real digger named Harnett is back on the watch."
A second dog with the Vancouver transit police, Chopper, is named after Const. Ryan (Chopper) Masales of the Abbotsford Police Department. He died from cancer two years ago.
The two canines received their badges Thursday.
"This is going to be an opportunity for our handlers to tell the stories of these two fine officers and what they've done for policing and the legacy that they've left," said Sgt. Gord McGuinness with the explosive detection K9 unit in a video released by the transit police.
