A sea of red and blue filled the Langley Events Centre乌鸦传媒檚 arena bowl on Wednesday, Oct. 4 as thousands of RCMP officers and municipal police gathered, along with family and friends, to pay tribute to Const. Frederick O乌鸦传媒橞rien, who was killed in the line of duty last month.
Following a procession featuring several thousand first responders in their dress uniforms, the funeral at the LEC began with four officers, three carrying sabres, marching in with the Guidon, the regimental flag of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, to be draped at the front of the stage.
O乌鸦传媒橞rien乌鸦传媒檚 coffin, draped in a Canadian flag, was led in by a chaplain, and carried by eight pallbearers in red serge.
His widow, Nicole Longacre-O乌鸦传媒橞rien, followed along with the couple乌鸦传媒檚 children, each of them carrying a white rose, along with other family members and RCMP officers.
The coffin was carried through an arena that held approximately 6,000 people, the stands filled with silent first responders, including hundreds of RCMP officers in their red serge jackets and stetsons, along with municipal police from across the province, and other first responders. The family placed the roses on the coffin.
乌鸦传媒淭his is a challenging moment, but this place is filled with a lot of love,乌鸦传媒� said Ridge Meadows RCMP Chaplain Greg Dalman.
He noted the presence of O乌鸦传媒橞rien乌鸦传媒檚 father and sisters among the mourners, as well as colleagues who were there to support the family.
乌鸦传媒淩ick had worked his way into your hearts and lives, to leave a lasting impression,乌鸦传媒� Dalman said.
Before joining the RCMP, O乌鸦传媒橞rien was an education assistant, a mental health worker, and a youth worker. His choice to become an RCMP officer took place when he was in his 40s.
His family and friends remembered him a someone with a boundless desire to help others, especially children and the vulnerable.
He had a love of sports, especially the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Blue Jays, of sarcastic humour, and of Led Zepplin.
Family friend Stephanie Porter read a message from his wife, Nicole Longacre-O乌鸦传媒橞rien.
乌鸦传媒淗ow do I ever imagine life without you, when our whole life was planned around being together and watching the kids grow up?乌鸦传媒�
She mentioned that the day of his funeral was the day they had planned to leave on a long-planned vacation for just the two of them.
With their blended family of six children, he took all of her children under his wing and loved them like they were his own, Longacre-O乌鸦传媒橞rien wrote.
乌鸦传媒淲e really did fit a lifetime of adventures into the last 11 and a half years,乌鸦传媒� she wrote.
乌鸦传媒淵ou are my forever love.乌鸦传媒�
His friend and training officer Cpl. Pete Westra remembered O乌鸦传媒橞rien as kind and compassionate, including visiting multi-barrier youth and schools in uniform.
乌鸦传媒淗e cherished all the positive interactions he had with youth,乌鸦传媒� Westra said.
When a file came up involving a vulnerable victim, O乌鸦传媒橞rien would speak up quickly, but would accept in a grumpy voice, saying 乌鸦传媒淔ine, I乌鸦传媒檒l take it.乌鸦传媒�
But everyone knew he loved helping those in need, Westra said.
乌鸦传媒淩ick乌鸦传媒檚 loss has devastated many people,乌鸦传媒� said Westra. 乌鸦传媒淚t 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. The world has changed with this loss. We can乌鸦传媒檛 say enough, but we want to say 乌鸦传媒榃ell done Rick. We love you.乌鸦传媒櫸谘淮綕
乌鸦传媒淩ik was very young at heart, but he also had a heart of gold. You could always count on him,乌鸦传媒� remembered his friend Const. Ben Stephens.
He remembered that for O乌鸦传媒橞rien, policing was about letting people know they matter, and changing lives for the better.
乌鸦传媒淚 was really proud of the police officer that Rick was. He taught me a lot about patience and about being a better police officer,乌鸦传媒� said Stephens.
His family remembered O乌鸦传媒橞rien乌鸦传媒檚 love of gross-out humour, and his sister Cindy Niezen shared stories about his silliness and teasing.
But he was always there for his family.
乌鸦传媒淚f Rick loved you, he loved you with his entire being,乌鸦传媒� Niezen said.
乌鸦传媒淗e wore his uniform with pride. He served his community with excellence, because he cared about people,乌鸦传媒� remembered O乌鸦传媒橞rien乌鸦传媒檚 friend Const. Dan Leclaire.
乌鸦传媒淩ick was, and always will be, a hero,乌鸦传媒� said RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme.
He said the criminal landscape was becoming increasingly violent, and said that his goal was to protect the RCMP while they protect others.
An incident when he had been an officer for just seven months was shared by Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald, BC RCMP commanding officer.
O乌鸦传媒橞rien was one of seven officers who responded to 911 calls about a home invasion in progress. They formulated a plan and entered the home in the presence of armed suspects.
The officers rescued four adults and a small child, and arrested four suspects.
O乌鸦传媒橞rien was awarded a Commissioner乌鸦传媒檚 Commendation pin and and Award of Valour for his part in the successful rescue.
乌鸦传媒淗e close the gaps that day,乌鸦传媒� said McDonald.
乌鸦传媒淗e spent so much of his career closing gaps. How do we now deal with the gap caused by his absence?乌鸦传媒�
He told O乌鸦传媒橞rien乌鸦传媒檚 family that their 乌鸦传媒淩CMP family乌鸦传媒� would be there for them always.
The funeral ended with the Last Post played by a bugler, followed by a piper playing a lament, and then the bugler playing Reville.
O乌鸦传媒橞rien was killed while serving a warrant as part of a drug investigation in Coquitlam. Two other RCMP officers with him were wounded in the same altercation. The suspect is now facing first degree murder and attempted murder charges.
Originally from Ottawa, O乌鸦传媒橞rien lived in the Willoughby neighbourhood of Langley, and spent his entire seven-year service with the RCMP in the Ridge Meadows detachment, serving Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows.
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Master of ceremonies - now bugler will play the last post, traditionally signals the end of the day. 乌鸦传媒淭he camp is secure. Your duty is done. Rest in peace.乌鸦传媒�
Then piper plays the lament.
