Constable John Teevens Essay

Guelph Police Force Constable John Teevens

History:

Constable John Teevens, 52 years, died on January 27, 1945 having never fully recovered from his on-duty injuries where a drunk driver smashed into his traffic island on Upper Wyndham Street where he was on point duty on Dec. 9, 1939. Nevertheless he soldiered on until his death on Jan. 27, 1945. He was 52. (4)

Chronology:

Saturday December 9th, 1939 at 9:00pm - The Guelph Mercury- Monday December 11, 1939 article “John Teevens, City Police Officer, in hospital with severe hurts after Crash – George Ruiter is given fifteen days for drunk driving”

• Cst John TEEVENS was on point duty operating a “Stop and GO” signal on his traffic island on upper Wyndham Street Guelph when he was struck by

The story goes he received it “one stormy night when all the streetlights were out. Constable Teevens stopped a motorist and said to him that the car’s rear lights were not working. The motorist replied, “Can’t you see the powers off?” And the officer answered “that’s right too” and let the driver go without a summons to court.” (4)

• “Born in Guelph Township, 52 years ago, he was the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. John Teevens senior. John Teevens was employed first at the Ontario Agricultural College, later joining the staff of the Homewood Sanitarium. By the time the last war started [The Great War], he had become supervisor of attendants. (4)

• “Enlisting with the Army Service Corps in 1916, he went overseas the next year. Returning to Canada in 1919, he rejoined the Homewood Staff, leaving to accept a responsible position with the Ontario Hospital in Orillia. On April 1, 1921, he became a member of the Guelph Police Department.” (4)

• In 1922 he married the former Ursula Duignan who died seven years later. (4)

Sources:

(1) –source: The Guelph Mercury- Monday December 11, 1939 article “John Teevens, City Police Officer, in hospital with severe hurts after Crash – George Ruiter is given fifteen days for drunk