On November 27th, 1932, Constable Joseph Reilly was driving a police vehicle with his partner Constable W. Olliver, they were on routine patrol. As they were senior officers they had the privilege of driving one of the new "police radio" police cars rather than being assigned to a walking beat.
Just after midnight, at 00:25, as he drove southbound through the intersection of Burrard St. and W. Georgia St., his vehicle was struck by another vehicle. Upon impact Constable Reilly was thrown from his vehicle and suffered a skull fracture and two broken legs. He was unconscious and never recovered. He died almost one month later on December 23rd, 1932 in Vancouver General Hospital.
Constable Joseph Reilly was born on September 9th, 1878 in Prince Edward Island. He joined the Vancouver Police Department on August 25th, 1914 at 36 years of age. His service record indicates he was hired as "a temporary fourth class constable to take place of a constable at war." His pay at the time he was hired was $960 per year. On June 4th, 1915 he was taken on the force as a regular Constable.
Joseph Reilly: policeman, husband, father, son. "We Shall Never Forget You."
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