In Memoriam

Acting Sergeant Paul Smith joined the Lethbridge Police Force on November 1, 1912 after serving three years with the North West Mounted Police. On June 10, 1913 - his first day as Acting Sergeant - Smith was killed in the line of duty. Smith was electrocuted when he came into contact with the exposed wire of an electric light at the intersection of 3 Avenue and 9 Street South. The newly installed light had gone out and Acting Sergeant Smith had attempted to shake the chain in order to turn it back on.

Acting Sergeant Smith was the first member of the Lethbridge Police Force to die in the line of duty, and also the first municipal police officer to die in the line of duty in the province of Alberta.

Paul Smith was engaged to be married at the time of his death and left behind his fiancée, along with his father, brother and sister.

On August 27, 1933, Sgt. Blocksidge and Cst. Farrell were killed in a collision just east of Fort Macleod. According to the inquest, they were driving westbound in a Ford car owned by the City of Lethbridge and used by Cst. Farrell in his duties as a special relief constable working throughout southern Alberta. There were two additional passengers in the vehicle – both provincial relief auditors who would have been working with Cst. Farrell.

The police vehicle went off the road and hit the end of a wooden box culvert which swung the car broadside of a telephone pole. Cst. Farrell died instantly and Sgt. Blocksidge died at the scene a short time later. The two provincial relief auditors were injured, but survived. It was determined the collision was the result of Cst. Farrell falling asleep at the wheel, as he had been on duty all night.

Sgt. Joseph Blocksidge, Regimental Number 82, was born in Greenwich, England and served in India with the Royal Horse Artillery. He came to Canada in 1923 and was hired as a police officer. He was promoted to Sergeant in 1928.

Cst. Joseph Farrell, Regimental Number 105, was also born in England and came to Canada in 1910. He joined the Canadian Military in 1914 as a nurse and left under demobilization in 1919. Farrell was hired as a police officer in 1931. He transferred to the relief department in 1932.

Both men are buried in Mountain View Cemetery.

Constable Byam joined the Lethbridge Police Force on July 16, 1951. On June 10, 1964 there was severe flooding in the river valley and Constable Byam was dispatched to assist in evacuating a small island where several people were living in a hut. Byam was on horseback and had attempted to cross the river when he was swept away and drowned.

Constable Byam left behind his wife Lorna (Quinton) and seven children - Ronna, Monta, Flayne, Barry, Randy, Tari and Kenneth.