Game Warden Dennis Greenwood
British Columbia Ministry of Environment - Conservation Officer Service
British Columbia
End of Watch: Saturday, July 5, 1930

Biographical Info
Age: 37
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Not available
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Not available

Provincial Game Warden Dennis Greenwood was posted to Canal Flats, BC when he was murdered on the main street of that community while performing his duties. The murder was witnessed by his wife and two young daughters. Several members of the Canal Flats community also saw Greenwood felled by a single shot fired by a man he had charged for poaching three deer the previous winter. The accused, also a Canal Flats resident, had shot the deer out of season, poisoned the carcasses in hope of killing coyotes and cashing in the hides for the bounty they carried.

The facts of the incident had been proven in court and on the day of the murder the accused and Warden Greenwood were to appear Justice of the Peace Benjamin Luck in Canal Flats at 3 pm for the sentencing of the suspect.

Warden Greenwood moved to the Canal Flats area with his wife eight years prior to his murder. He saw service in W.W.I as an artilleryman in the Royal Artillery. On arriving in Canal Flats Greenwood was employed as a storekeeper and postmaster.

He later became a police officer and then a Provincial Game Warden. Newspaper reports of the day accounting the details of his murder state: "Able and diplomatic in the discharge of his duties, courteous and in every way a gentleman, Mr. Greenwood had right from the start won the respect, admiration and affection of all with who he came in contact". Greenwood had been a Game Warden for five years at the time of his murder.

Game Warden Greenwood and a store owner's wife were standing beside Greenwood's car when the accused approached Greenwood and, touching him on the arm, asked to speak to him. As Greenwood followed him to the rear of the car, Mrs. Roberts went to speak to Mrs. Greenwood who was seated in the car. Mrs. Roberts heard what she thought was a tire blowout and turned to the rear of the car and saw Greenwood fall to the ground and Floyd walking away.

The gunshot that had felled Greenwood had been fired into his stomach at such a close range that the end of the tie he was wearing was singed from the muzzle blast. Greenwood regained consciousness only once and asked to see his daughters. He died less than an hour after being shot.

On October 20, 1930 the accused was tried for the murder of Game Warden Greenwood, a crime for which the penalty of the day was death.

The jury heard that prior to murdering Greenwood, the suspect was known as a quiet and soft spoken man who served during WWI as a sniper and was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for gallantry in the field. Recent family and financial troubles and the summons to court on the wildlife matter may have "unhinged his mind."

After a short deliberation the jury brought in a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. The accused was "ordered into custody to await the pleasure of His Honour the Lieutenant Governor."

Two days after his murder Game Warden Dennis Greenwood was laid to rest in the small military section of the Windermere Cemetery. People came from all over to pay their last respect to a officer who was held in high regard by the community he served.

Game Warden Greenwood was survived by his wife and three daughters.