Calgarians can honour Sgt. Harnett with ‘blue campaign’: police

CALGARY (660 NEWS) – Calgary police say the best way to show support for the family of the late Sgt. Andrew Harnett is to take part in a so-called “blue campaign.”

Police are encouraging Calgarians to display blue porch lights and to tie blue ribbons to their homes or on trees across the city.

“It means the world to our officers to see these displays while they continue in their duties during this difficult time,” the Calgary Police Service (CPS) said in a statement on Saturday.

“Thank you to those who begun this campaign, and to those who have taken part.”

We are able to release the name of our member who was killed while on duty late yesterday.

Sgt. Andrew Harnett, 37, joined the Calgary Police Service 12 years ago. He will be forever missed. #yyc #WeWillRemember #ThinBlueLine https://t.co/ZHCXNrcrN0 pic.twitter.com/7mUAxT7tbA

— Calgary Police (@CalgaryPolice) January 1, 2021

Just before 11 p.m. on Thursday, police say Harnett was conducting a traffic stop outside a gas station near the intersection of Falconridge Drive and Falconridge Boulevard.

Investigators say Harnett stopped a vehicle due to a mismatching license plate. When Harnett approached the car, the suspects sped off and struck him, police said. The 37-year-old died in hospital around midnight.

READ MORE: ‘Totally senseless’: Suspects in custody in death of Calgary police officer

“As a Service, we cannot fully express how immensely grateful we are for the outpouring of community support we have received following the tragic loss of Sgt. Andrew Harnett,” wrote Chief Const. Mark Neufeld in a statement.

“There is no doubt we are all feeling this loss, but please know this community support is helping us all navigate this difficult time. Knowing you are thinking of Andy, his family and our policing family, when you yourselves are dealing with all of the uncertainty and challenges of the past year, is comforting to say the least.”

The two accused – Amir Abdulrahman, 19, and a 17-year-old male who can’t be named because he is a minor – were taken into custody after they turned themselves in on Friday evening.

Police confirmed both suspects appeared before the Justice of the Peace on Saturday morning. They will remain in custody pending the next court appearance – a bail hearing scheduled for Monday.

Police said Calgarians could also send their messages of condolence for Harnett’s family to the CPS by email.