Constable Larry Esau, PC#160

Appointed Jan 2nd, 1964, Fallen June 29th, 1966

Constable Larry Esau was just a young man when he joined the VPD. Born in Hebert, Saskatchewan, Esau had worked with the RCMP before joining the VPD in 1964. He had always wanted to be in law-enforcement, wishing to work within every branch of the VPD. By 1966, Constable Esau was 23 and settling into married life with his pregnant wife Diane and their small child. He had just graduated from a motorcycle-training course and described as the best in his class.

On June 29th, 1966 Constable Larry Esau was on traffic duty, patrolling on his VPD red Harley Davidson motorcycle along East Hasting St., checking for illegally parked cars. As he approached eastbound Woodland Drive, a vehicle pulled out into his lane, attempting to cross Hastings St. Swerving left in an attempt to avoid the car; Constable Esau struck the front left fender of the vehicle. He was thrown sixty-four feet and suffered severe head and leg injuries. Having witnessed the accident, passing pedestrian Staley Young ran to the motorcycle and radioed for help. An ambulance team rushed to the accident and administered oxygen before taking Esau to Vancouver Regional General Hospital for an emergency operation. Despite their efforts, Constable Larry Esau died six hours later due to the substantial head injury occurred during the accident. 

The driver of the vehicle remained at the scene and reported not having seen the motorcycle until it was too late.