'Well done, Rick. We love you': Fallen B.C. RCMP officer remembered at regimental funeral
Thousands gathered to pay respects to fallen B.C. RCMP Const. Rick O'Brien at a regimental funeral Wednesday, remembering the former teacher for his humour, compassion and dedication to public service.
Fellow officers and other first responders travelled from across Canada and the United States to attend the service at the Langley Events Centre, sharing their grief and a few moments of laughter as O'Brien's loved ones recalled some of their favourite memories from his life.
The most heartbreaking remarks came from his wife, Nicole Longacre-O'Brien, who thanked her departed husband for being such a warm and welcoming father to the three children she brought to their relationship.
"I always knew you were my gift from the universe – exactly what me and the kids needed," she wrote, in a eulogy delivered by family friend Stephanie Porter.
"I loved loving you."
Longacre-O'Brien also revealed the couple had been planning a romantic getaway before his life was tragically cut short last month, at the age of 51, when he was shot while executing a search warrant in Coquitlam.
"We were jumping on a plane to paradise for 11 days," Longacre-O’Brien wrote. "Here I am instead, sending you off to a different kind of paradise, one that I was never prepared for."
Colleagues also remembered O'Brien as a man who teased and joked with his fellow officers, but who took his duties and responsibilities seriously, particularly those involving society's less-fortunate.
"I have numerous memories of Rick standing at my desk, chatting. When a file would be dispatched with some sort of vulnerable victim involved, he would hardly wait for the dispatcher to be done talking (before taking the case)," said Cpl. Pete Westra.
Westra, who met O'Brien as his field trainer before the two became friends, said O'Brien was also fond of visiting students and young people on his own time, eagerly sharing with them his vision of law enforcement.
An RCMP officer wipes tears during a regimental funeral for RCMP Const. Rick O'Brien in Langley, B.C., on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Others recounted the day that O'Brien, after getting off work, spotted a structure fire and rushed to help.
"He didn't require a uniform to take on the responsibility of serving his community," said Cpl. Dan LeCLaire, who was the best man at O'Brien's wedding.
Two separate speakers – including one of the deceased's siblings, Cindy Niezen – felt compelled to reference O'Brien's love for passing gas during their eulogies.
"Rick enjoyed cracking them off whenever and wherever," Niezen said to laugher from the crowd. "Yeah, I'm going there. I swear, he would intentionally eat spicy foods, as well as dairy products, to enhance the fragrance."
Everyone involved in the service – which was attended by some 5,000 people, including local officials and uniformed officers – described O'Brien's death as a devastating loss to the community.
"It was too early, and it was senseless. It will be felt by his family, friends, the entire Ridge Meadows detachment, the RCMP, and the countless lives that he touched," said Westra. "We can't say enough, but we can say: Well done, Rick. We love you."
A child wearing an RCMP costume salutes the funeral procession for Const. Rick O'Brien in Langley, B.C., on Oct. 4, 2023.
Prior to the funeral, mourners lined the streets of Langley under cloudy grey skies to pay tribute to the fallen officer.
Some 3,000 uniformed officers were involved in the procession down 202A Street, marching alongside O'Brien's hearse towards the Langley Events Centre.
Many supporters watching from the sidelines donned red attire, including a young child in an RCMP costume, who saluted O'Brien as the hearse passed.
The eulogies were followed by a performance by the RCMP's "E" Division Pipe Band, a moment of silence, and a benediction by Ridge Meadows RCMP Chaplain Greg Dalman, before the service concluded with a final salute.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Too close to call: Nail-biting results in B.C.'s 43rd provincial election
Our special coverage of B.C.'s 43rd general election has ended, with the results too close to call.
Metro Vancouver hit with massive flooding, road closures on the day of B.C. provincial election
A powerful atmospheric river caused street flooding in parts of Metro Vancouver Saturday, closing some roads and soaking voters headed to the polls in B.C.'s provincial election.
Trump kicks off a Pennsylvania rally by talking about Arnold Palmer's genitalia
Donald Trump's campaign suggested he would begin previewing his closing argument Saturday night with Election Day barely two weeks away. But the former U.S. president kicked off his rally with a detailed story about Arnold Palmer, at one point even praising the late, legendary golfer's genitalia.
Leaked documents show U.S. intelligence on Israel's plans to attack Iran: CNN sources
The U.S is investigating a leak of highly classified U.S. intelligence about Israel’s plans for retaliation against Iran, according to three people familiar with the matter. One of the people familiar confirmed the documents' authenticity.
Parents pull children from class over presentation at Halifax area school
A number of parents at Oyster Pond Academy pulled their children from class Friday after learning about a gender identity presentation.
'Absolutely force us to close': Saskatoon business seeking donations to pay $18K in fines
Julianna Tan says her world was turned upside down when she got a letter this summer summoning her to court.
Cher inducted into Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with Dua Lipa and Zendaya paying tribute
Dua Lipa and Cher opened the Rock and Roll Hall Fame induction ceremony on Saturday night singing 'Believe' before giving way to a medley of rump shakers by funk masters Kool & the Gang and a powerhouse performance by Dionne Warwick, bringing the house down at 83.
Hurricane Oscar forms off the coast of the Bahamas
Hurricane Oscar formed Saturday off the coast of the Bahamas, the National Hurricane Center in Miami said. It characterized the storm as 'tiny.'
Ontario man told to 'go back to India' explains why he shared video of the encounter online
A Waterloo, Ont. man is sharing video of a recent encounter with a stranger to give others an idea of the hate he experiences in the community.