Errol Reid
On Saturday, November 24, 1956 about 7pm, two desperados robbed a supermarket in Brantford of about $7,000. Their very successful robbery however did not include a ‘get-away’ plan. So, they called a cab and took a ride into Hamilton where they went into the nearest bar, something called “Club One Two” on Main Street. The cabbie of course headed back to Brantford where an officer stopped him and asked where he took those men. The Officer then took the cabbie, and they returned to Hamilton. On the way he called for assistance from the Hamilton Police.
Most of this information was obtained from an article in the Brantford Expositor printed on November 26, 1956. When the contingent from Brantford arrived at the Club, they met Detectives George Smith and Errol Reid from the Hamilton Police. The cabbie was able to point out the two men in question and then went back outside. George Smith and Errol Reid were inside watching the men and George used the telephone. The suspects saw Errol and recognized him as a policeman. They jumped him in the crowded room and took his gun and marched him out the back door.
It turns out that Errol was a well-trained master of Judo. At this point he suddenly turned on the culprits using his finely-honed jujitsu skills, took his gun back and arrested one of the men. The other man was arrested later in the night in Oakville.
On December 14, 1956 Errol received an award from Board of Police Commissioners for his display of heroism and jujitsu. Seen in the picture are Chief Len Lawrence, Judge William Schwenger and Mayor Lloyd Jackson. They gave him a set of cufflinks.
Errol was a Canadian Navy Veteran of the Second World War. He served out his time with the Hamilton Police with distinction.
By Dave Bowen, Retired Inspector, Hamilton Police Service