Bridges dedicated to Lambton police officers killed on the job

CTV London: Building memories Three bridges are named in honour of fallen Lambton County officers. Sean Irvine with more on this important act of remembrance.

Three bridges in Lambton County Ontario have been dedicated to the memory of officers who died in the line of duty.

A ceremony was held Friday at the Thedford Community Centre to pay tribute to Const. William Rodgers, who died in 1970, as well as Const. Randall Chatterson and Const. Garry MacDonald, who were killed in a head-on collision in 1975 while on patrol.

Rodgers is being recognized with a bridge at the Oil Heritage Road overpass on Highway 402. He was killed while directing traffic at a crash scene during a blinding snowstorm. The bridge dedicated for Const. Chatterson is on Highway 402 at Forest Road. The bridge recognizing Const. MacDonald is on Highway 21 at the Ausable River overpass. Memorial signs with the officers’ names and the police service crest have been posted at each side of the bridge in their honour.

Const. Bill Rodgers

Rodgers joined the Ontario Provincial Police on Jan. 31, 1966 and served in Sarnia before moving to Petrolia.

He was on duty as a blinding snow storm snarled traffic in much of southwestern Ontario.

Rodgers had already attended one collision scene on Feb. 25, 1970, when he was dispatched to investigate another on Highway 7 and Highway 22. After locating the reported site, he stationed his car west of the scene to warn oncoming motorists of debris and parked cars in the area. At 12:35 p.m., while directing traffic, he and two other people were struck and killed by a westbound car. He was 33 years old.

For several years the William R. Rodgers Memorial Curling Bonspiel was held by the Ontario Provincial Police Association to keep his memory alive in Petrolia. He is survived by his wife and two daughters.

Const. Randall Chatterson and Const. Garry MacDonald

The pair died May 2, 1975, while on night shift as partners. Shortly after leaving their detachment, they were involved in a head-on collision with a transport truck and were killed instantly.

Chatterson was born in January 1950. He joined the Ontario Provincial Police on June 14, 1971, serving in the Chatham and Forest detachments. He is survived by his wife and son.

Const. MacDonald was born July 8, 1943. He joined the Ontario Provincial Police in the late 1960s. He is survived by his wife and two daughters.