'A hero remembered never dies': Memorial honouring fallen police officers held in Victoria
Emotions were raw as hundreds gathered at the B.C. Legislature Sunday afternoon to honour the police officers who were killed in the line of duty.
The grim reality of the risks officers take on every day was made especially clear when a Ridge Meadows RCMP officer was killed on the job just two days before the annual BC Law Enforcement Memorial.
“Today, as you know, is particularly difficult, heartbreaking already knowing that at next year’s memorial we will be adding another name: Const. Rick O’Brien, murdered senselessly on Friday,” said Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald, the commanding officer of the B.C. RCMP.
O’Brien and two other officers were in Coquitlam executing a search warrant as part of a drug investigation in Maple Ridge. The two officers were wounded and have since been released from hospital.
Nicholas Bellemare, 25, is now facing a first-degree murder charge and a charge of attempted murder with a firearm.
“The RCMP is hurting today. We’re grieving the loss of two of our members in the course of a year.”
Last October, Const. Shaelyn Yang was stabbed to death while attempting to save a man in a tent in a Burnaby park.
“We recognize those who gave their lives to protect all of ours,” said Public Safety Minister and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth. “Today’s memorial reminds us of all the risks and challenges all our enforcement officers face protecting their communities.”
Speakers at the memorial remind attendees that officers are more than their uniforms.
“They are fathers, mothers, daughters and sons. They are community coaches, mentors, neighbours and friends,” said Doug Forsdick, provincial director of adult custody division with BC Corrections. “They leave behind families united by grief that few of us will ever be able to understand.”
Over the past 12 months, 13 law enforcement officers have made the ultimate sacrifice in the country. Their names have been added to an honour roll.
“Your exceptional turnout today clearly demonstrates your individual and collective commitment to ensuring the services and sacrifices of our fallen officers will never be forgotten. For a hero remembered never dies,” said Deputy Chief Const. Robert Warren with the Saanich Police Department.
While Const. O’Brien was on everyone’s mind in Victoria and at the national memorial in Ottawa, his name will officially be added to the honour roll next year.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Liberal MP says she's leaving politics over disrespectful dialogue, threats, misogyny
Liberal MP Pam Damoff says she won't run again in the next federal election, saying she has experienced misogyny, disrespectful dialogue in politics and threats to her life.
Concerns about Plexiglass prompt inspections at some Loblaws locations in Ottawa
Inspections are underway at more than one Loblaws location in Ottawa after complaints were filed about tall Plexiglass barriers.
Federal employees will be required to spend 3 days a week in the office
Starting in September, public servants in the core public administration will be required to work in the office a minimum of three days a week. The Treasury Board Secretariat says executives will need to be in the office four days per week.
OPP officer said 'someone's going to get hurt' before wrong-way Hwy. 401 crash
As multiple Durham police cruisers were chasing a robbery suspect on the wrong side of Highway 401 Monday night, an Ontario Provincial Police officer shared his concerns, telling a dispatcher, "Someone's going to get hurt."
Ont. woman who faked pregnancy to defraud doulas arrested again on similar charges
Victims of a Brantford, Ont., woman who was sentenced to house arrest earlier this year for defrauding and deceiving doulas say they’re not surprised she’s been apprehended again on similar charges.
Five human skeletons, missing hands and feet, found outside house of Nazi leader Hermann Göring
Archeologists have unearthed the skeletons of five people, missing their hands and feet, at a former Nazi military base in Poland.
Poilievre returns to House unrepentant for calling Trudeau 'wacko,' Speaker not resigning
An unrepentant Pierre Poilievre returned to the House of Commons on Wednesday to pepper the prime minister about his drug decriminalization policies after being booted the day prior for refusing to take back calling Justin Trudeau 'wacko' over his approach to the issue.
Construction begins on LGBTQ2S+ national monument in Ottawa
Shovels have hit the ground for constuction on Canada's LGBTQ2S+ national monument in Ottawa.
B.C. man awarded $5,000 in damages in first-of-it-kind intimate image case
In a first-of-its-kind case, a B.C. tribunal has ruled on a dispute involving the non-consensual sharing of intimate images, awarding damages and issuing orders that the photos be destroyed and taken offline.