OPP Association Take Part in Bridge Dedication for Provincial Constable John "Pete" Behan

Pictured Provincial Constable John “Pete” Behan, OPP Commissioner Thomas Carrique, OPPA President Rob Stinson, OPPA Director Terri Hubbert and Carleton MPP Goldie Ghamari

OPP Association President Rob Stinson and Director Terri Hubbert were honoured to join family and friends of OPP Provincial Constable John “Pete” Behan, Deputy Solicitor General Mario DiTommaso, OPP Commisioner Thomas Carrique, MPP for Carleton Goldie Ghamari, local dignataries, OPP and RCMP colleagues and community members at the Beckwith Recreation Centre in Beckwith Park, Carleton Place, Ontario on Friday April 1, 2022 for the dedication of a Bridge for Constable Behan.

Provincial Constable Behan died in the line of duty when his OPP police cruiser crashed on April 13, 1956 on Highway 7 between Marberly and Silver Lake. Read the Honour Roll on the OPPA website here. Officer Behan had previously served with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police prior to joining the Ontario Provincial Police.

The following remarks were delivered by OPP Association President Rob Stinson to those gathered for the occassion.

Deputy Solicitor General Mario DiTommaso, OPP Commissioner Thomas Carrique, MPP for Carleton Goldie Ghamari, local dignitarites, Nancy Behan and family and friends of OPP Provincial Constable John “Pete” Behan.

It is an honour to join family, colleagues, dignitaries and community members today as we honour the life and service of OPP Provincial Constable John “Pete” Behan with a bridge dedication here in Beckwith. Thank you for the invitation to be here today.

Rest assured that the service and sacrifice of PC Behan and all of our 110 OPP Officers who have died in the line of duty will never be forgotten.

PC Behan’s name is engraved on our OPP Association Wall of Honour at our head office in Barrie, at our Memorial Wall at OPP GHQ, at our Memorial Wall at the Ontario Police College, on the Ontario Police Memorial Foundation Memorial at Queen’s Park and on the Canadian Police and Peace Officers Memorial on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.

We gather the first Sunday in May at Queen’s Park in Toronto, and the last Sunday in September annually on Parliament Hill in Ottawa to remember PC Behan and all officers who have died in the line of duty. Everyone is welcome to attend these events and I look forward to seeing many of you gathered here today in Toronto and Ottawa this year as we return to in person events.

We thank the Ontario Government for honouring the memory of our police officers who have died in the line of duty by the naming of bridges in memory of our members who paid the ultimate sacrifice. These bridge dedications ensure the service and sacrifice in the line of duty of our members will never be forgotten by the communities that they served. This is important to their families, friends, colleagues, and the entire community.

Provincial Constable Behan and all of our fallen officers are our Heroes In Life, Not Death.”

Thank you.

Photos below by OPP Identification Constable Andrew Dohert

The official OPP News Release about the event is below for reference:

Beckwith Bridge Dedicated to Fallen Police Officer

Ontario Honours OPP Constable Who Died in the Line of Duty

NEWS RELEASE April 1, 2022

BECKWITH -Today, Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Commissioner Thomas Carrique hosted a bridge dedication ceremony to honour a Beckwith police officer who lost his life while serving in the line of duty.

“Provincial Constable John A. C. Behan served and protected the people of Ontario,” said Commissioner Thomas Carrique. “This bridge dedication is an acknowledgment to the many lives lost because of the sacrifices made by our police officers every day.”

“When people travel through Beckwith Township, they will now see a memorial in honour of the bravery and strength of Provincial Constable Behan,” said Solicitor General Sylvia Jones. “This bridge dedication commemorates the service and commitment he demonstrated during his career as an OPP officer, and I hope it will be a place of comfort to all those who remember him.”

The bridge dedication honours fallen officer Provincial Constable John A. C. Behan, who died in a motor vehicle collision on April 14, 1956, while on patrol with his partner. Born in Ottawa, Constable Behan joined the Royal Canadian Air Force when he was 19 and left to join the Royal Canadian Mounted Police before joining the OPP. At the time of his death, he was 21 years old and was survived by his parents, brother and sister.

“This bridge will now serve as a tribute for one of our fallen heroes. We will always remember Provincial Constable Behan’s selfless dedication to policing and service to his community,” said Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Transportation.

Memorial signs with the officer’s name and police service crest have been posted on each side of the bridge in his honour.

QUICK FACTS

Since 2002, Ontario has permitted bridges and other highway structures to be dedicated in memory of fallen police officers.

Seventy-two provincial highway structures have been dedicated to fallen police officers.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

OPP Association Take Part in Bridge Dedication for Provincial Constable John “Pete” Behan