Retired Sergeant Norm Shillington receives his award of recognition from Minister Kwinter. The North Bay Police Service held a special awards luncheon today at the Royal Legion. Board Chair Peter Chirico and Chief Paul Cook were be joined by M.P.P.
Retired Sergeant Norm Shillington receives his award of recognition from Minister Kwinter.
The North Bay Police Service held a special awards luncheon today at the Royal Legion.
Board Chair Peter Chirico and Chief Paul Cook were be joined by M.P.P. Monique Smith and Minister Monte Kwinter to formally recognize retired Constable Jack Dempsey and Retired Sergeant Norm Shillington in relation to shootings they were involved in while serving with the North Bay Police Service in 1972 and 1973.
“35 years ago these two individuals became a part of North Bay history and are finally receiving a long overdue recognition for their valiant acts."
"Every time an officer starts a shift you never really know what will happen… these two men showed courage and prevented further injury to others,” Chirico said.
M.P.P. Monique Smith took a moment to thank Minister Kwinter for working so diligently to have these men recognized by the government for surviving such an extreme event.
“It’s is an interesting piece of history because shootings aren’t common in Northern Ontario, but when incidences like these do occur it is important to appreciate the people who are putting their own lives on the line. These men deserve an incredible amount of respect and admiration for their quick decisions and responsible actions,” Kwinter said.
Retired Police Chief George Berrigan told vivid stories of each officer’s life-threatening situation and captured their devotion as public servants and protectors as well as the fright and pain that they must have experienced in the moment.
On December 1, 1973 it was a typical Friday evening with the usual call-ins, but only a few hours before the end of shift the ordinary turned into something far more stirring and extraordinary.
Camille Ethier, a 24 year old resident, had been drinking at the Belmont Hotel and became upset when a co-worker started to argue with another person.
Ethier left the tavern went to the trunk of his car where he retrieved and loaded a 12-guage single shotgun.
What resulted was the killing of Constable Len Slater and the wounding of Constable Gord McCourt, who was shot point-blank in the shoulder. But it was Shillington and the late Sergeant George Nicholson who arrived in time to protect his injured partner and take down Ethier.
Shillington, after exchanging gun fire, subdued Ethier with a bullet to the neck and then called for ambulances for the wounded.
Ethier received a life sentence but was released in the early 80’s. He was originally supposed to be executed however that conviction didn’t hold up because Constable Slater was not wearing his hat and could have been mistaken for a civilian.
Jack Dempsey would not escape his encounter unscathed.
On December 24, 1972 on Main Street around 11p.m. Dempsey was one of only four officers on duty. Just hours before police had responded to a break and enter at Jacob’s Gun Shop (now Valenti’s Restaurant), as well as another break-in at Lefebvre’s Sports and Hobby where ammunition was stolen.
Just shortly before 11p.m. Dempsey drove by Burnside Cab, which was across from the Cathedral and noticed a car that didn’t belong in the lot. He noticed two men in a car exchanging something with a cab driver and thought they were bootlegging alcohol, something common in those days.
The passenger was drunk and the driver refused to budge, it was then that Dempsey spotted the stolen guns in the back seat and at almost the same time experienced a blinding flash of pain as he was shot six times, barely blocking a shot to his groin with his hand. He was shot in the calf, hand, knee and abdomen, one of the bullets lodging beside his spine.
Yet, through the searing pain he managed to crawl away from the vehicle to a close-by wall where he was able to get himself on his feet and return fire, but not before making sure the relatively innocent cabby was safely aside.
The cab-driver dove into the police officers car and called on the radio for assistance while Dempsey drew his gun and fired his 38-revolver. The windshield slowed the bullet enough that the assailant only suffered a deep wound in his forehead.
Officers Roger Driver, Preston Quirts and Dave Evans arrived moments later and arrested the two men in the car and called for emergency vehicles.
Police Chief Cook summed up each officer’s heroism with a quote by John Wayne: “Courage is being scared to death and saddling up anyway.”
