'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
Robert Pickton stabbed with toothbrush and broken broom handle: victim's family
The family of one of Robert Pickton's victims says the convicted serial killer suffered an incredibly violent death at the hands of another inmate.
Republicans join Trump's attacks on justice system and campaign of vengeance after guilty verdict
Embracing Donald Trump's strategy of blaming the U.S. justice system after his historic guilty verdict, Republicans in Congress are fervently enlisting themselves in his campaign of vengeance and political retribution in the GOP bid to reclaim the White House.
Daughter of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt files court petition to remove father's last name
A daughter of actors Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt filed paperwork to legally remove "Pitt" from her name on the day she turned 18.
U.S. defense secretary says war with China neither imminent nor unavoidable, stressing need for talks
United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin told a gathering of top security officials Saturday that war with China was neither imminent nor unavoidable, despite rapidly escalating tensions in the Asia-Pacific region, stressing the importance of renewed dialogue between him and his Chinese counterpart in avoiding "miscalculations and misunderstandings."
Ex-husband charged with murder in death of Lumby, B.C., woman
The ex-husband of Tatjana Stefanski – the woman whose disappearance and death set the small town of Lumby, B.C., on edge last month – has been charged with her murder.
Hezbollah fighters shoot down an Israeli drone in southern Lebanon
The militant Hezbollah group said it shot down an Israeli drone over southern Lebanon on Saturday, after hours Israeli drone strikes killed at least one person and wounded others.
North Korea is sending more trash-carrying balloons to South Korea
North Korea launched more trash-carrying balloons toward the South after a similar campaign earlier in the week, according to South Korea's military, in what Pyongyang calls retaliation for activists flying anti-North Korean leaflets across the border.
Is intermittent fasting better than counting calories? Maybe not, but you might stick with it
As weight-loss plans go, it's easy to see the allure of intermittent fasting: Eat what you want, but only during certain windows of time — often just eight hours a day.
Hostage families call for a ceasefire deal pushed by Biden. Israel says conditions must be met
Families of Israeli hostages held by Hamas called for all parties to immediately accept a proposal detailed by U.S. President Joe Biden to end the nearly eight-month-long war and bring their relatives home, but Israel's government said conditions for a ceasefire still must be met.