A bridge dedication ceremony was held on Tuesday to honour Constable Richard Arnold Beard and Constable Mont Alexander Wood who lost their lives while serving in the line of duty in the Napanee area.
Constable Beard died on August 28, 1921, from injuries sustained while responding to an attempted break-in at a jewellery store.
He was 51 years old and survived by his wife and five children.
Constable Wood died on December 1, 1951, from injuries sustained while responding to a motor vehicle call.
He was 59 years old and survived by his wife and five children.
Memorial signs have been placed at bridges in Napanee to honour both Constable Beard and Constable Wood.
Constable Beard’s bridge is located at Highway 401 and Newburgh Road.
Constable Wood’s bridge is located at Highway 401 and County Road 41.
You can read the full bios of the officers below:
Biography of Richard Arnold Beard
Constable Richard Arnold Beard was born in England on April 27, 1870. A veteran of WW1, Richard was a member of the 67th (South Hampshire) Regiment of the Foot.
He served with the Napanee Police Service for several years. On August 28, 1921, during a routine foot patrol, Cst. Beard was alerted to sounds at a jewelry store on Dundas Street. Suspecting a break and enter, Cst. Beard approached the alleyway to investigate and was tragically shot.
At the time of his death, Cst. Beard was 51 years old and survived by his wife and five children.
Biography of Mont Alexander Wood
Constable Mont Alexander Wood was born in Fernleigh, Frontenac County on March 11, 1893. At the age of 23, in 1916, Alexander enlisted with the Canadian military and served during WW1.
Cst. Wood served as a police officer with the County of Lennox and Addington for 29 years. In the early morning hours of December 1, 1951, Cst. Wood stopped to assist a stranded driver north of the village of Northbrook on Highway 41. While waiting for a tow truck to arrive, he saw headlights approaching through the heavy fog. Cst. Wood stepped out from behind his car to close his car door when he was struck by the approaching vehicle. An Ontario Provincial Police officer from Northbrook Detachment,
Constable Gordon Stout, rushed Cst. Wood to the Belleville hospital. Unfortunately, Cst. Wood died shortly after arriving at the hospital.
At the time of his death, Cst. Wood was 58 years old and survived by his wife and five children
