CPS officer from Strathmore killed on New Year’s

By Sean Feagan, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

New Year’s Eve turned to tragedy when a Calgary Police Service (CPS) officer who resides in Strathmore was struck and killed during a roadside stop in the city.

Sgt. Andrew Harnett, 37, was struck by a vehicle following a traffic stop at approximately 10:50 p.m. on Dec. 31, near Falconridge Boulevard and Falconridge Drive in northeast Calgary. Despite efforts by colleagues and emergency medical services, he later died of his injuries, according to CPS.

“Because of some senseless criminal actions, our service and our community are mourning on this first day of 2021,” said CPS chief constable Mark Neufeld, during a Jan. 1 news conference. “More importantly, a family has lost a son, a sibling has lost a brother, a spouse has lost a partner, and many, many members of our service have lost a really good friend.

“We’ve all lost Andrew Harnett.”

The vehicle that struck Harnett and then left the scene was occupied by two individuals. First degree murder warrants were issued for their arrest on Jan. 1 and their names were released. Both accused are Calgary residents.

As the driver of the vehicle is a youth, aged 17, an application to the Youth Division of Calgary Provincial Court was made to identify the youth. However, as this order has expired, the identity of this accused youth may no longer be published.

The other occupant of the vehicle was Amir Abdulraham, 19. As reported by the CBC, there was already an arrest warrant out for Abdulraham’s arrest for an alleged previous assault.

Following the event, a search for the vehicle and its occupants was made by police and the public. The suspect vehicle, a copper 2006 Infiniti FX, was located by police at about 1:30 p.m. on Jan. 1, in the northeast community of Taradale and was brought in for forensic investigation.

The accused individuals were arrested at police headquarters after turning themselves in to police at about 5:30 p.m., later that day. The pair were scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 4.

Harnett was a member of the CPS for 12 years, having been promoted to sergeant in 2019. He was also a veteran, serving two-and-a-half years in the military as a military police officer.

Harnett was also a Strathmore resident. Members of the Strathmore community, including the Strathmore Fire Department and the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 10, offered condolences in response to Harnett’s death. 

Strathmore Mayor Pat Fule offered condolences via his Facebook page on Jan. 1. 

“He died in his service to protect people, and he, like other police officers, are guardians of us all,” he said. “I am very sorry, and on behalf of the Town of Strathmore, I wanted to express my gratitude for his service, as well as all police, as they put themselves at risk every day for us.”

Residents of Strathmore honoured Harnett on Jan. 3 by placing blue ribbons and other mementos at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 10 cenotaph in downtown Strathmore. Other residents of both Calgary and Strathmore have shown their support by installing blue lights and blue ribbons at their homes.

Harnett’s family has requested privacy while mourning their loss. However, CPS has set up an email address (condolences@calgarypolice.ca) for those wanting to offer condolences to the officer’s family. 

The family has also released a statement, at newsroom.calgary.ca/harnett-family-statement.