More than 80 years after he was gunned down, a Sarnia police officer will get the honour he deserves thanks to the kindness of strangers.
The Sarnia Historical Society was looking to raise money for a memorial for Constable Jack Lewis, who was killed by the notorious Red Ryan during a liquor store robbery on Sarnia’s main street on May 23, 1936.
Ryan was then killed by local officers, and a $1,000 reward for his capture was never paid.
After the society's request to use the unpaid funds for a memorial was denied by the Ontario government, anonymous donors across Sarnia-Lambton jumped in to help.
Society President Ron Realesmith says it only took one day for them to collect enough money.
"Once the media outlets from Sarnia covered the story, donors reached out to us and said "hey we've either read about it or heard about it and we want to help out," says Realesmith. "So once we got a quote together, anonymous donors stepped up and donated $4,400."
Realesmith says ideally the plaque will be on display by September.
Anyone interested in assisting in the effort can call the Sarnia Historical Society at 519-491-6361.