Andrew Harnett: BC Transit dog named after Calgary officer

The Vancouver Transit Police Service Dog has a special relationship with the Calgary Police Service.

That's because Harnett, a two-year-old German Shorthaired Pointer named after Sgt. Andrew Harnett, a Calgary police officer, was killed in the line of duty on New Year's Eve 2020.

That night, Harnett was struck by a car that fled the scene and later died of his injuries.

Vancouver Transit Police posted videos on Twitter and YouTube of Harnett and his human partner, Constable Lisa McKay, in action.

“His favorite thing in the world is football,” McKay said. “He likes to come to work and work for the ball.

“He loves going on the train, going around the stations, seeing the people, and then at the end of the day he likes to go out and chase the birds.”

Harnett is a new service dog who just graduated on Thursday. According to a video posted on Twitter by Vancouver Transit Police, he is the 10th police dog in the department's history.

“We are grateful to the Metro Vancouver Transit Police for naming a police service dog after Sergeant Andrew Harnett,” Calgary police and Harnett's family said in a statement.

“We will never forget the ultimate sacrifice Andrew made and it is comforting to know that he will be remembered in Vancouver as well.”