Ken Swett was born on March 8, 1951, in the Smiths Falls area. He was twenty-three years old when he joined the OPP on February 11, 1974. He was a fully trained mechanic and wanted to work in the auto theft section of the OPP.

Constable Swett was driving from Ottawa to the Lancaster Detachment on Highway 17 on July 17, 1981, driving home a victim of an assault and robbery when he received a vehicle for observation call on the radio for a drunk driver.

About two and one-half miles south of Highway 44, in the West Carleton Township, Ken spotted the vehicle. The drunk veered into Ken’s lane and struck the cruiser. The police car rolled and both vehicles burst into flames. Ken, the innocent victim and the drunk driver were all killed at the scene as a result of multiple injuries.

The remains of thirty-year old PC Ken Swett were taken to the Blair Funeral Home in Smiths Falls followed by a police funeral. Ken was laid to rest in the Hillcrest Cemetery in North Elmsley Township.