George Bassett’s introduction to Public Service began when he joined the Canadian Army.  In 1962, after he left the Army, he joined the Petrolia Police Department in Ontario, but after two years, in 1964, he joined the Hamilton Police Department.  Not only was he an athletic and versatile Police Officer but he also became an active member of the Hamilton Police Men’s Chorus.

In 1975 George was in a cruiser by himself when five men robbed and terrorized a family while armed with a Sten Gun (Machine Gun), two handguns and two knives.  I believe that the machine gun was fired into the ceiling during the robbery.  When they left the crime scene, police were called and George happened to be close enough to the crime scene that he spotted them as they fled. 

George tried to stop the car with the men and their weapons, but they tried to elude him, only to crash not too far away.  They all managed to get clear of their car and fled on foot with George in hot pursuit. He captured two of them by himself.  One man managed to break free and escape again but George kept the other man in custody.  As a direct result of his actions all five men were identified and arrested, and the weapons were recovered. 

Chorus Group at City Hall: Peter Bontje, Paul Skinulis, Bob Arnott, Lou Kingerley in back Len Carrington, George Bassett, Moose Larson in front

George Bassett
Served 1964-1994

In memory of Chief Lawrence’s dedication and work to make our community safer, the Hamilton & District Chamber of Commerce created The Leonard G. Lawrence Memorial Award to recognize outstanding police work to the community by a Hamilton police officer, group of officers or a section of the Service in the previous year.   George Bassett was the first Officer to receive this award.  To this day, the Leonard G. Lawrence Memorial Award is proudly displayed at Central police station and continues to be awarded annually

George and his wife Geraldine with Chief Gordan Torrance

At all times when on duty, George’s uniform, manner, and deportment, reflected the soldier he had been and the police officer he became.

In 1976 George was interviewed by a reporter from the local newspaper, the Hamilton Spectator, during which he told the reporter he’d worked Foot Patrol, Parks Patrol, Motorcycles and was at that time, working in a cruiser.  During that same interview George said that in eleven years of police service, he had won six divisional commendations and three commendations from the Chief before that latest award.

One day, when George worked on motorcycle patrol duties, he was involved in a severe collision.  During his recovery, his neck had to be fused.  Later, when he was assigned to a patrol car, someone else crashed into his cruiser causing further neck damage and terrible back problems.

Because of the physical injuries he received during the performance of his duty, it became clear he could no longer work as an active officer on the front line, so, until his retirement in 1992, he worked for a time in Court Security and later, the Records Department. 

By Dave Bowen, Retired Inspector, Hamilton Police Service