Norman Ernest Brickell: A Lifetime of Service in Law Enforcement
1914–1986
Pine Hills Cemetery
Section 8 Lot 192
Norman Ernest Brickell dedicated nearly four decades to policing, beginning his career on October 4, 1940, as a constable with the Scarborough Police Force. His early patrols were done on a bicycle – a humble start to a distinguished career.
Brickell rose through the ranks to become Staff Inspector and Officer in Charge of Metro’s 42 Division, retiring on April 1, 1978. As both a uniformed and plainclothes officer, he investigated many major crimes across the region. A case that haunted him for life was the unsolved disappearance of 17-year-old Marion McDowell, who was kidnapped from her boyfriend’s car on December 6, 1953. Brickell and his then-partner, future Police Chief Harold Adamson, were detectives on duty that night when McDowell vanished without a trace.
After 38 years of service, Brickell left behind a legacy of dedication and integrity. He passed away in 1986, still troubled by the mystery of Marion McDowell, a case that remains unsolved to this day.
