Name of Fallen Guelph Police Officer Added to Ontario Police Memorial 77 Years Later

Guelph Police say the name of an officer who died in 1945 has finally been added to the Ontario Police Memorial in Queen’s Park.

const. John Teevens died on January 27, 1945 from injuries sustained in December 1939 after being hit by a drunk driver on Upper Wyndham Street.

He was 52 years old.

In a press release, police said the circumstances of his injury and death were largely lost until investigators working on a history book on police work in Guelph discovered his story several years ago.

Retired Sgt. Doug Pflug and Const. Matt Jotham, former president of the Guelph Police Association, has submitted information about Teevens to the Ontario Police Memorial Foundation, who agreed that the fallen officer deserved recognition.

Teevens’ name was read out last spring during the annual commemoration ceremony at the monument. This year’s ceremony will be the first in-person event due to the pandemic and will be held on Sunday.

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Teevens’ name was recently written on the monument and he will be officially recognized during the ceremony.

He is the fourth Guelph officer to have his name engraved on the memorial, along with officers Jennifer Kovach, Walter MacAuley and William Holloway.

All the officers killed in action died after some encounter with a vehicle.

Sunday’s ceremony will be streamed live and more information can be found online via the foundation’s website.