Cst. William Nixon
End of Watch: August 31, 1919
Constable William Nixon was born Ingersoll, Ontario. He joined the Edmonton Police Department in 1912. Two years later, following the outbreak of the First World War, Nixon joined the Canadian Army. He served courageously on the front lines until November 9, 1918, two days before the Armistice, when he was gassed. He rejoined the police department upon his return to Edmonton.
On August 30, 1919, Constable Nixon was shot and mortally wounded while walking his beat. He succumbed to his injuries the following day after providing investigators with a description of the shooter.
Following a massive manhunt that included the first use of an airplane in Canada in pursuit of a criminal, Nixon’s killer, John Gundard Larson, was captured in the northern Alberta town of Mountain Park. Larson stood trial for the murder of Constable Nixon, an earlier assault on another police officer, and two robberies. Larson was given a life sentence. He was paroled in 1942.
Constable Nixon’s funeral was one of the largest in the city’s history, as befitting the officer’s bravery and sacrifice.
Constable Nixon, who was predeceased by his parents and brother, is buried in Ingersoll, Ontario.
The William Nixon Training Centre, which opened in 1999, is named in his honour.