Constable Lewis Byers, PC#149

Appointed November 1911, Fallen March 25th, 1912 

In October of 1911 after four years with the North West Mounted Police, Lewis Byers and Annie Woodcock moved to Vancouver. Byer’s work had denied the couple permission to marry, and life in Vancouver provided the opportunity for a new life together. His experience in law enforcement made Byers a perfect VPD candidate, and in November of 1911, he was sworn in as a Constable.

On March 25, 1912, a drunk and hostile man entered a merchant’s shop on Powell Street near Hawkes Avenue, waving a .38 revolver and threatening the staff who had refused to serve him.  

The staff called the police, but by the time Constable Lewis Byers arrived, the assailant had fled. Byers tracked the man to a shanty house at the foot of Burrard Inlet. As he approached the building, the assailant threw a door open five yards away and pointed a revolver at the Constable warning him 'not to take another step'. As Byers attempted to take cover, the man fired three shots. Two bullets struck Byers, one in the chest and the other in the neck.

Having heard the shots, Constable Russell rushed to the scene and called for assistance for the fallen officer. Byers was rushed to hospital but upon arriving was pronounced dead. 

A shootout ensued between the suspect and VPD officers Detective Champion, Police Sergeant Munroe and Police Constable Quirk. The assailant was wounded and taken to Vancouver General where he later died from his wounds.