Larry Johnson
Served 1976-1986
Larry was born in Toronto but has lived all of his life in Hamilton. He joined the Hamilton Police Service as a Cadet in February 1975 and became a Constable in September1976. When he was a young man, he and others became interested in SCUBA diving. He was able to meet Jacques Cousteau when he came to Hamilton in 1983. In fact, Larry is still interested in diving and has lead eighteen (18) Lake Safari expeditions to Africa to buy and observe Cichlid fish in Lake Malawi.
Larry and K9 “Jag”
Jacques Cousteau shown here
with Constables Cam Rumple, Larry and Rick Rozoski.
Cichlid fish in Lake Malawi.
In 1981 he was working with his Police K9 “Jag” in the area of 40 Amelia Street near Aberdeen when two men were reported to be trying to break-in to a home. Larry and Jag responded and were able to trap one man in a backyard at 190 Hess St. South. Suddenly the man turned with a revolver in his hand. He fired at Larry twice, but they were both a “misfire”. Then he fired again and the bullet penetrated his upper left Jacket Flap and then it was stopped by his Pocket Calendar sitting in a jacket pocket over his heart. The bullet fell into the pocket also. Larry knocked the suspect’s hand away just as he fired for a fourth time. The bullet missed Larry and the gun was knocked away.
Constables Elliot Jurek, Dean Curtis and William Sorley came to assist Larry and Jag and a ferocious struggle ensued. The suspect also had a large knife and he was able to inflict some injuries on all of them, before he was finally subdued.
The suspect later escaped from Hospital that night but he was recaptured. He eventually was sentenced to twelve years in jail and deported to Hungary.
Larry was very lucky to survive this incident, thanked his lucky stars and vowed to carry on with his Police duties according to an article in the Spectator, January 5, 1981.
The Amelia shooting incident was not the end Larry’s exciting policing experiences however. On April 29, 1982 he was driving a Police K9 vehicle up-bound on the old Mount Albion Road, just South of King St. He heard glass breaking behind his head in the cruiser and “Jag” yelped. He sped up and radioed for assistance because he was being fired upon.
All he could find was the broken drivers side passenger window and no visible injury to Jag. Larry and his K9 participated with other officers in the ground search for his assailant but they did not find anyone. Only at the end of his shift did he notice some dampness on Jag’s back.
All he could find was the broken drivers side passenger window and no visible injury to Jag. Larry and his K9 participated with other officers in the ground search for his assailant but they did not find anyone. Only at the end of his shift did he notice some dampness on Jag’s back.
Jag was able to complete his career and peacefully retire in 1985.
Larry left the job to pursue other interests in 1986.
By Dave Bowen, Retired Inspector, Hamilton Police Service