A Calgary police officer who died in the line of duty is being fondly remembered for his time at the Vernon cadet camp.
Sgt. Andrew Harnett was killed on New Year's Eve after being struck by a vehicle. Two teens have been arrested in the incident and are facing murder charges.
Harnett served as military police at the Vernon camp in the summer of 2007 and part of 2008. Those who worked with him said he had a way of connecting with the cadets that is not often seen.
Lt. Col. Lyle Johnson was the deputy commanding officer at the camp and worked with Harnett, who at the time was serving full time in the Canadian military.
“He's a great guy, especially working with the cadet program,” said Johnson. “He understood how young people think and react and he went out of his way to dispel the image of police versus the public. He would discuss things with the young people and do activities with them as well.”
Harnett was one of two military police stationed at the camp for the summer - his partner was Mike Webber - and Johnson said Harnett would often conduct foot and bicycle patrols, all the while interacting with the teenaged cadets.
Camp commander Lt. Col. Allan Dengis had nothing but praise for Harnett who had a way of making people feel at ease.
"He was very personable, very approachable, very engaging," said Dengis. "Just a wonderful person to be around. He related to everybody, he just had that personality. He was so easily able to interact with whomever he came in contact with."
Dengis, who is also retired RCMP, said it is hard to put into words the loss of Harnett.
"It was a great loss for everybody. He was just that kind of a person. It is a terrible loss," said Dengis.
Vernon historian and videographer Francois Arseneault was teaching history at the camp when Harnett was there, and he praised the impact Harnett had on the cadets.
Arseneault said some cadets even went on to become military police themselves because of the positive impression Harnett made on them.
“Andrew was a wonderful, wonderful young man,” said Arseneault. “He was one of those people who knew how to work with kids.”
Harnett also made an impression on the officers at the camp and he was presented the Commanding Officer's Commendation Award.
“That's about as good as it gets at a summer camp,” said Arseneault. “It's completely at the prerogative of the commanding officer to give out a commendation.”
Harnett and his partner would spend 12 or more hours a day on the job at the camp. It typically only takes a few minutes to patrol the grounds of the military base, but it would often take Harnett 90 minutes or longer because he would spend so much time interacting with the cadets.
Johnson said Harnett became even more popular at the camp when he volunteered to use his personal vehicle for patrols after the official police vehicle broke down.
“Andrew used his car to do patrolling around the camp and it was a red convertible, so the police were cruising around in a red convertible,” said Johnson with a laugh.
But Harnett's reach extended beyond the fences of the cadet camp.
Arseneault said Harnett helped arrest three suspects in a serious assault in downtown Vernon, after they fled to an area near the army camp. When police called for backup, Harnett and his partner responded and helped RCMP take down three violent suspects.
Harnett went on to serve 12 years with the Calgary Police after his time in Vernon. On Friday, Calgary police Chief Mark Neufeld called Harnett a "consummate professional" who was "amazing with the public."
Harnett leaves behind his spouse.
