OPP seek family members of fallen officer

OPP News Release

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Toronto – The Ontario Provincial Police is seeking family members of a Highway Traffic Officer who worked in Grimsby, Ontario until October 17, 1927, at which time he died while on duty with the Department of Highways.

Officer Leigh Wilkinson Metcalf was born in Lincoln County on April 17, 1901 and was raised in Grimsby, Ontario. His parents were Arthur W. Metcalf and Gertrude (Beamer) Metcalf. He was the youngest of three sons and his brothers’ names were Harold and Gordon.

Officer Metcalf was on patrol on a Provincial Highway when his motorcycle was involved in a head-on collision with a motor vehicle. Officer Metcalf was thrown to the pavement, sustaining fatal head injuries. He was subsequently rushed to hospital in Hamilton and died of his injuries.

Officer Metcalf had just been appointed to the Department of Highways as a Highway Traffic Officer a few months earlier and was the third Highway Traffic Officer killed during October of 1927.

An Ontario Police Memorial ceremony is being held at Queen’s Park on Sunday, May 4, 2008, where Premier McGuinty will present Ontario’s new “Tribute to the Fallen” plaques to surviving family members of those being honoured, one of whom is Officer Leigh Wilkinson Metcalf.

Surviving family members of Officer Leigh Wilkinson Metcalf are asked to contact Sgt. David Brown, Ontario Police Memorial Foundation at (705) 329-1203 or (705) 329-5522.

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