A regimental funeral and procession — that included a flypast by two CF-18s — took place in Calgary Saturday afternoon for a police officer killed in the line of duty.
The funeral for Sgt. Andrew Harnett was by invite-only due to the COVID-19 restrictions. The Calgary Police Service was granted an exemption from Alberta Health to allow 50 people to take part in the ceremony.
Officers in regimental uniforms, including Mounties in Red Serge, wore masks and stood two metres apart on the sides of the police headquarters driveway, casting long shadows in the light of a winter afternoon.
Two fire truck ladders on either side of the driveway suspended a giant Canadian flag, and the officers saluted as the hearse slowly made its way towards the station and around the loop in front of the building before finally heading out again.
Two Royal Canadian Air Force CF-18 Hornets from 410 Squadron at 4 Wing Cold Lake, Alta., roared past overhead.
The flypast was to pay respect to Harnett and honour his service and sacrifice in protecting Canadians and citizens of Calgary, both as a member of the Calgary police and a former member of the Canadian Armed Forces.
READ MORE: Calgarians line route to watch procession for fallen officer Sgt. Andrew Harnett
The Calgary Police Service also made the final call for the sergeant on Saturday and posted it on Twitter:
Harnett was killed after being struck and dragged by a vehicle while conducting a traffic stop on New Year’s Eve. Despite the heroic attempts by his colleagues and members of EMS to save his life, he died as a result of his injuries.
Amir Abdulrahman, 19, and a 17-year-old who cannot be identified have been charged with first-degree murder in connection to Harnett’s death.
READ MORE: ‘Andrew would have given everything for the police, and he did’: family of fallen officer
The 37-year-old officer joined CPS 12 years ago after serving as a military police officer.
He was born and raised in Hagersville, Ontario. Harnett’s family said he was determined to be a police officer from a young age.
His partner of seven years, Chelsea, is expecting their first child in the summer of 2021.
— With files from The Canadian Press
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