Circumstances

At approximately 6:00AM, November 1, 1928, Chief Lavery was driving a car and in pursuit of a vehicle driven by suspected shop breakers. Chief Lavery was accompanied by his brother Fred Lavery. They were travelling west on Provincial Highway 2. Chief Lavery pulled out to overtake the suspect’s vehicle when he collided with a steamroller parked along the highway. The accident happened about 5 kms east of Brockville.

Chief Lavery was taken to St. Vincent de Paul Hospital in Brockville with serious head injuries. He remained in hospital until he died of his injuries in the early hours of November 16, 1928. He never regained consciousness.

A funeral was held November 20, 1928. It was well attended and included the entire Prescott Town Council. The funeral procession to Sandy Hill Cemetery in Prescott was described as one of the largest seen in the area in some time.

Postscript

Chief Lavery had been a police officer in Prescott for 20 years and had been appointed Chief of Police only 4 months before his death. He was 56 years old and had lived in the Prescott area his entire life. He was survived by his wife, two adult children and his brother.