RCMP Const. Rick O’Brien funeral: Procession, memorial service honours fallen officer | FULL

Good afternoon and thank you for joining our special coverage of the regimental funeral for RCMP Constable Rick O’Brien who died in the line of duty on September 22nd thousands of RCMP members and First Responders from across the country are about to start a procession through the streets to honor their

Fallen colleague Constable O’Brien was shot and killed during the ex execution of a search warrant in kitum on September 22nd two other RCMP officers were hurt one of them seriously Constable O’Brien had been a member of the RCMP for almost seven years and today his service to the force will be

Remembered and we are joined in Studio by retired RCMP Staff Sergeant John bus uh John we have to thank you once again for being here under once again heartbreaking circumstances because it was wasn’t even a year ago that we were in this very spot for the funeral service of constable shayin shayin Yang

Who who died uh last November thank you so much for being here today thank you for inviting me well just maybe start with your thoughts less than a year out from Constable Yang’s death and now Constable O’Brien and uh we’re doing this again honoring another Fallen mounty it’s heartbreaking not only for

Uh Constable Brian’s family but friends relatives everyone that knew well we we know you know the kind of trauma that led to the death of constable O’Brien is very close to you uh you nearly lost your life in in the service of your duty um and you have a

Son who is also a serving and his partner exactly and I was going to bring that up because this call came into kilum as the procession begins now uh it must have been very frightening for you to hear that this was in cilum where your son serves yeah the only other way

That I could describe it that’s happened to me before somebody with this similar regimental number to me was killed one of my troop mates so those kinds of attachments that you form uh you’re in shock for a period of time I mean you do understand it you try to uh live with it

But it does come as a shock John you participated uh in processions like this uh before uh and again we thank you for being with us today and I know it’s um the coming together at a procession funeral like this um is part of the healing Journey for these members and

You’re you’re choosing to be with us today but what does this service mean for these members these RCMP members and all the other police officers and First Responders who were joining in today well it does a couple of things and the first thing is for the family it brings

Some closure it’s going to take a long time but it does start the process and for people that worked with him uh it’s also a process that we go through and we honor that person’s uh service but with having a regimental funeral and it is open uh in many ways

To members of the public and other First Responders who will line the route and will watch the procession go by and that’s got to be meaningful I I would assume for a lot of people in law enforcement to see that kind of support that that we saw when shayin Yang’s

Procession went by a lot of people lined the route to pay their respects as well I think for uh many Canadians it uh they’re also supporting the police but also they’re looking at it it’s one of their own M yeah he was uh a a dedicated member of the community as well he’d

Only been with the force for seven years and before that he’ served his community in other ways uh as well in education working with youth let’s take a look at the procession that’s happening right now through the streets of Langley and just remind us John what is a regimental

Funeral well there are certain aspects of a rral funeral funer funeral that are unique bringing out the giddon is one of them having the commissioner present is another one and there are all sorts of uh activities that go on during the regimental funeral that make it special

And you’ll see that as it comes through you mentioned the gon and a a lot of people watching might not even know what that is but that is a a very important part of the ceremony and you in fact have a a smaller replica of what will be

Carried uh during this procession so describe why that’s so important well the RCMP is a regiment of drons uh that uh King George 6 sorry 5ifth designated the RCMP as a regiment of drons that’s light Cavalry and from that time we were allowed to have a gon a standard a set

Of colors and for each campaign that we we were involved with there’s another Cipher that’s attached to the uh uh gon am I allowed to touch it of course may I may I I’ll try to hold it up to one of our cameras and and this and you can see

It in the shot right there this would have been carried on the battlefield for instance uh it would have had ceremonial significance to anybody in combat and it’s only brought out and displayed on its own with and no uh other flags are shown or flown during the regimental

Funeral and uh there are some very significant parts of that gon that that tell our history this is a a replica of the last serving on the one that was consecrated in 1973 at depo and it’s a big deal to consecrate a new one which just happened yes it was very big it

Took over 5 years to get the process going and the completion and it just coincided with Queen Elizabeth’s death MH so that we were able to put on the new Cipher for King Charles I thir and that is the one that’s being carried there as the Pipers pipe in front of the

Vehicle that is carrying the body of constable O’Brien and so how many I I recall for Constable Yang’s procession and funeral over thousands how many um members would be involved today roughly the difficulty with this is we never know in advance exactly how many people are coming I do

Know that the Langley Event Center will hold comfortably over 5,000 and uh I’m not sure how many were going to be there but I believe it’s going to be full well it certainly seemed full for Constable shayin Yang’s funeral when it was at the Richmond oval

And what a sight to see so many people there to support her family and we’d expect exactly the same today to support Constable O’Brien and his Family in addition addition to John bus uh in studio with us uh we are out obviously along the procession route covering the procession and the service that’ll be coming in about an hour’s time for you um among our crews out in the field right now is our own Sonia

Suer who’s along the Route there waiting for that procession to arrive at the Langley Event Center Sonia yeah Sophie you can probably see behind me here these gray uh Skies really reflective of the mood that is in the air right now it is somber there are people that are slowly lining up uh

Spoke to a number of people lined up a a nurse who said it was really important for her to be here today in order to pay her respects to the First Responders that she works with every day in her job she also has family members who are

First Responders as well um and you know it’s it’s not just adults it’s a lot of children here as well children of our CMP members and other law enforcement officers um so I just want to give you a bit of a lay of the land of how things

Will go here today so we are on 80th Avenue right now in front of the Langley Event Center right now the procession is going to be starting at 76th Avenue going up 202 Street uh which is behind me so you can see there are a lot of people Gathering here they’re going to

Come up to 02 Street then they’re going to hang a left right here onto 80th Avenue and then make their way under this large Canadian flag held up by two fire trucks before they make their way into the Langley Events Center and you will notice today A lot of people are

Wearing red that is something that uh was requested uh by the National Police Federation benevolent Foundation they are asking people to wear red saying that it symbolizes not only the RCMP but the red surge that Constable O’Brien was so happy and proud to wear in his role

As an RCMP officer um we will bring you much more we’re going to be here throughout the procession um I’ll throw it back to you for now and uh when we come back we’ll bring you some um more a little bit more color how people are feeling here along the procession route

Definitely some emotion along that route uh this morning Sonia thank you very much for that as the uh procession Contin there towards the Langley Event Center uh conable O’Brien served in the Ridge Meadows Detachment but he lived in Langley and uh and of course Langley Event Center is the uh perfect venue to

To hold a something like this that will include thousands of supporters of the RCMP and those who want to honor Rick O’Brien in the way that is best suited for someone who has lost his life in the line of duty John uh what we’re looking at right now is of course um RCMP

Members and they will likely dominate the the colors we’ll see today but there will be all sorts of um officers from across BC across Canada probably even the United States which we’ve unfortunately seen too many times in recent years these kinds of things but it really brings the sort of Brotherhood

And Sisterhood together yes it does and it does it in a positive way mhm how how so how how does that and how meaningful is it to to see other jurisdictions other law enforcement agencies come together well we do know that other jurisdictions other police forces have suffered the same fate as we

Have and it’s a coming together and it’s a it’s a way to honor that person’s service not only by the RCMP but B Police Department Westminster police department Canada Border Services it’s all all of these people honoring the service of constable BR it’s um a a very

Formal structured event you were part of the rehearsal for this um ceremony yesterday as you were last year for Constable Yang’s funeral uh and you have participated directly in the actual events themselves just tell us a little bit about the planning the protocol that goes into something like this well

There’s a manual that we go from it’s a critically injured Fallen member manual and a lot of the details that would go into a regimental funeral as well as how to take care of the family are in there and that manual came about about seven or eight years ago and formalized things

Things we’ve been doing all along would actually formalize them so somebody else could take it and use it elsewhere what are the supports for families in situations like this obviously we we know Constable O’Brien had a large blended family there are people that uh you know those families will need

Support uh what is available to them and and how is that administered well the first thing that happens is there’s someone a senior member of the RCMP that’s assigned to the family to walk them through many of the things that are going to H be happening to them there’s

No way to prepare for that just a sudden shock and so we do have things in place to help the family there are Provisions within uh uh different acts uh including the uh survivors act uh that financially the family will be taken care of but again it’s dependent upon how much

Service they had because if anything less than two years of service they’d get their contributions back with interest Etc but once you start hitting those mile posts or sign posts of of your service more things are available but there are also there is f there are funds available for them and we did

Mention that Council O’Brien had only been with the force for seven years but was as dedicated as they come by all accounts and and that is something that isn’t as unusual maybe as it used to be older members joining late after a career doing something else but wanting

To be a part of something that maybe is a calling or something more meaningful in their lives and conable O’Brien sounds like he fits right into that category there were so many uh roadblocks to older people joining that uh somebody took a look at it the organization said no we can’t continue

To do this because there a lot of good potential police officers out there that may not be 25 years old anymore they may be a little bit more advanced in age and we’re finding that there are people as old as 50 that are joining because it’s

Always what they wanted to do and maybe it’s something you know uh um an advantage to bring in someone who has life experience From Another Part of society uh you know has had a different career before then as well well I was in Depo about seven or eight years ago and

I ran into a young man I say young man he was 51 years old he had already done a full service with the BC conservation service and a pension and came over to the RCMP because he wanted to join he’d always wanted to be a member of the RCMP

It is a calling for so many people in uniform who sign up knowing what what the risk is of an event like this right you don’t know if that call is the one that’s going to be your last that’s right let’s take a look um now we’re seeing again the the vehicle

Carrying Constable O’Brien uh and those would those be the Paw bearers beside they they are the actual paw bearers the ones that will bear the casket and known as the yeah the the bearer party Bearer party correct and the bearer party Commander is usually at the rear of the Funeral

Coach providing guidance and what is the will they will they have worked with Rick will there be some personal connection to Constable O’Brien in the in the choice all of the above kind of thing what they do is the family selects in conjunction or in consultation with the Detachment Commander to make sure

That those people are physically able to do it number one and number two what their connection is with the Constable Ryan and there we see the riderless horse yes the charger is that right it has a bit of tradition in the RCMP and also other Cavalry units and what it has

Is a set of riding boots turned backwards right and so the the hope is that uh Constable O’Brien and his last ride will view the parade that’s what that means yes all right okay so much symbolism there is and tradition and it’s it’s not unique to the RCMP but

It’s one of the few uh units in North America that still does that a policing pipes and drums are up front now MH leading theer coach it’s just a sea of red always such a powerful Image I remember you mentioned last year when we were here honoring Constable Yang that the sound of the drum was very important it is that’s usually the indication when the left foot hits the ground the beat of the drum and that’s how they can keep in Pace in step with

Everybody in front of them and so it goes all the way from the front to the back it’s difficult though with a distance yes once you start getting farther away from the pipe band it’s really difficult to hear the beat of the drum but they do try and they do bring

Them back into step as best they can they look like they’re doing pretty well in unison right now it’s tough to do with eight people across it’s usually with four No Doubt with uh with eight it’s more difficult rounding a 90° turn as they are well the

Procession is getting much closer to uh Langley Event Center now Sonia suer uh one of our uh many reporters out covering this event tonight joins us once again after having spoken to some people along the procession route as well Sonia yes Chris uh thanks so much so

Important for so many members of our community to be here I think right now everyone’s a little bit overcome by emotion seeing this wave of red marching towards us everyone standing shoulder toosh shoulder it uh you can feel it in the air um this this sense of loss and

This sense of grief and that is what brought so many people here today many of them have lined the procession route where officers are Marching right now we spoke with a nurse and uh the wife of an RCMP member about why they wanted to be here let’s take a

Listen my family and I were all um healthc care workers uh registered nurses um we work with the police Community paramedics fire we want to show our support show them that we’re grieving as well in the community and that it’s a huge loss um my younger

Sister is a paramedic so she is in the processional my her husband my brother-in-law is a firefighter as well um so we’re wanting to show our support for them and to show them that we’re here to stand with them I just my heart is broken my heart’s broken for um his

Wife and children and family and for everybody it’s just so sad and so many others we spoke to just did not want to appear on camera they were just too overcome by emotion so many family members of members uh are lined on these sidewalks here with me

You can see the procession coming in right behind me now and there was a a real palpable change in the air for me as soon as the procession started coming closer to us you can see it on people’s faces you can see the emotion everyone standing still in memory of constable Rick

O’Brien those pipes go right to the heart I think we all certainly do and as you can see yeah I just wanted to give it a moment um sometimes you don’t need to say anything when a moment is so emotional like this one here right now

And we can see the the hearse making its way turning the corner underneath the Canadian flag being propped up by two fire trucks heading into the lakee Angley Events Center thousands hundreds of officers really I don’t have an exact tally of how many are here today but I assume it is in the thousands especially when you approximately 3,000 I’m hearing when you combine RCMP officers along with VPD also has a big contingent coming here

And as well as a number of other Municipal forces along with uh cbsa officers um and paramedics other First Responders so the community really is so big when you when you think about what is happening here today and the grief that people feel it’s not just for those

That are connected to the RCMP it’s anyone that is a law enforcement officer or an emergency responder so as you can imagine this is uniting a lot of people today um and uh really a a beautiful tribute for an officer who gave the ultimate sacrifice absolutely thanks for that Sonia and very well

Said from here have a listen to those pipes and take in this [Applause] [Applause] [Applause] moment [Applause] [Applause] [Applause] left left right left right up right left up up left right left left Right left [Applause] come [Applause] up up up right up [Applause] [Applause] [Applause] up [Applause] [Applause] [Applause] help [Applause] help help Help we mentioned that conable O’Brien was really only a member for seven years but he did a lot in that seven years he he was known uh for his work serving youth the homeless as part of the uniform Community Response Unit dealt with uh first nations in the

Community received an award of Valor just a few months after joining the RCMP for rescuing hostages in a home invasion so he he may have only been serving for a short time but he certainly had a wide breadth of experience in the seven years that he

Served and you’re right it had his dream apparently he had tried to join up with Toronto Police Service when he was a young man but circumstances got in the way I think as life often does um but he always held that dream and he was able to achieve that dream with the support

Of his family um who he uh seemed very close to I I watched a little video that he and his wife did his wife Nicole did um talking about gratitude and the connection that they seem to have with each other was really tight very close I

Know the family will be there today and it’s a big family blended family of uh six children ranging in age from I think school age to Young adulthood and even older adult and even older adulthood yeah yeah but at a time like this you even though that’s a very big family this

Looking at what we’re looking right now is their extended family yes and I think the it’s further extended to all Canadians who for whatever reason hold the RCMP in in high esteem yeah I mean it’s not whatever reason we do we do appreciate and sometimes that’s forgotten uh that we do

Represent the people of Canada yeah and I think you know the support by and large is overwhelmingly positive in the RCMP and you know look even the RCMP have had to admit yes there are some things the culture that they need to address in their culture but they

They have pledged to work on that and and that is what is drawing people like Constable O’Brien in the belief that the mission still Matters and it’s important work certainly did for me for 45 years so [Applause] yeah [Applause] [Applause] [Applause] [Applause] [Applause] we’re seeing we saw Canada Border Services John um the military uh we’re seeing all sorts of um departments detachments organizations represented here how do they how is the word put out and how how how do these people sign up or do they sign up or just show up social media changed all

That I bet it didn’t they get the information almost instantly and they start putting together groups of people to come to these events many of the unions that represent these police officers will send people to uh funerals like this and it there is a group as well obviously this great number of law

Enforcement members who are attending this event but yet there are those who sacrifice being there to continue to protect to Serve and Protect people especially in the Ridge Meadows Detachment correct yes yeah there we the RCMP made sure that there are enough police officers on the street in Maple

Ridge and Pit Meadows this afternoon so that those closest to Constable O’Brien could be here today uh and of course a lot of members still couldn’t um participate uh in the service today and are able to to take part by watching right now yes [Applause] [Applause] Quick [Applause] [Applause] [Applause] this [Applause] He One He Start calling it up [Applause] again [Applause] there’s a high upshot of the um hundreds and hundreds and I’m sure thousands of members of various RCMP detachments police forces military um Border Services John as you’ve mentioned who are taking part in the procession and service for Constable Rick O’Brien today and fire as well those two fir

Trucks holding up that giant Canadian flag which really is a kind of a point of arrival for the ferial part of this and John it was interesting to hear you say that moment passing under that is quite special can you describe what that’s like it’s a very emotional moment

Because you know you’re going into the actual funeral yeah and then when you leave it’s also very emotional because you see the Canadian flag a huge Canadian flag and you’re marching under it seems like it there it is right now like it would be a sense of finality

To well there are many people uh who are not in involved in in law enforcement or as First Responders who are lining the parade route as well Sonia suer is out along the parade route speaking to some of them and and uh getting their perspective as well Sonia

Yeah well said Chris you know there are just so many members of the community that have just told me you know what I I just needed to be here today to show my support and one of those people is Tina Evans Tina come over here um you made a

Sign show us a sign and and why you’re here today I think it’s important to thank the RCMP for everything they do for us in the community and I honestly feel that uh they don’t get as much positive recognition as they should and I want to say thank you not only to the

RCMP but to their families for supporting them to come out into the community to help us absolutely and you know watching all of these officers March in How how do you feel what’s what’s a what is the thought going through your mind it’s it makes your

Heart flutter it makes you feel sad and it’s so beautiful to watch everybody come here and support Constable O’Brien well said thank you so much and and thanks for being here today I know it means means so much to um all of the officers here today that are gathered

Here to remember Constable Rick O’Brien and you know I’ve heard you both talking about his service to the community he was uh as we are learning so dedicated uh not just to the community at large but specifically to Children he worked as an education assistant and he had

Dreams of becoming a police officer at a young age it didn’t work out for him then uh he tried with the Toronto Police Service he went on to become an education assistant and uh after school teacher as well assistant and as life took him on its Journey he came back to

Policing uh in around 2017 and uh that is when he be began his policing career with Ridge Meadows RCMP and of course um it brings us here today to remember the ultimate sacrifice that he made um and you may have noticed a lot of people along the procession route here they

They are wearing red and that is a a nod to him of course to the RCMP and to the red surge that he was so proud to wear um I’ll throw it back to you guys and uh we’ll chat with you soon all right thank you very much Sonia yes wearing red in

Honor of Rick O’Brien today we touched on a bit um some of the challenges the RCMP has gone through in recent years what does it mean then to see signs like thank you uh and to just know there is some recognition um Beyond some of the negative uh stuff that’s

Come up in the last few years yes it’s very uh good to hear that from people but we don’t do it for those kind of comments but we want to make sure that everybody’s safe and everybody can go about their own business and not have to worry about you know uh protection and

Everything else that that comes in this day and age well it is is it is true that it’s a calling for so many people who uh feel a sense of of justice and wanting to be a part of something greater than themselves and everyone in uniform today

Who is Marching In This procession or watching or thinking about Rick O’Brien is thinking about the risks that come in in the line of duty and you know that Rick ran was not expecting to happen what happened when he was working alongside kit Lamar CMP and serving the

Arrest warrant back on September or search warrant a warrant in any event um but but that’s the reality they face that uh any day could be their last and that’s not just something they have to ponder and and realize but their families and you know that now too on

This side of it with your son’s still serving yes and I’m not sure uh you know what uh spouses go through when they send their loved one off to work it must be really difficult and now I understand a little bit better because I’ve got with my our son and his

Uh partner and uh yeah it makes you think and it must make you think as we get our first look inside the Langley Event Center what your loved ones went through when you were going off to work and now you you get that perspective yeah but you also know that they’re

Doing a great thing for the community I hope so and that’s what I always thought and that kept me going no doubt it keeps them going too thank you [Applause] John [Applause] Com com I’m like what are you doing Will people Here The For e for well if you’re just joining us this is the regimental funeral the procession has essentially just ended for Cal Rick O’Brien who died in the line of duty back on September 2 22nd thousands of First Responders members of other law enforcement agencies branches of the Canadian military fire ambulance all

Marching uh towards the Langley Event Center for the funeral service for Constable O’Brien a 7-year veteran of the RCMP who died in the line of duty serving a warrant with some others it’s difficult getting thousands of people into the Langley Event Center in a timely fashion uh and that’s what they

Are uh in the midst of right now but once they are all in we are expecting um the formal funeral events to begin at around 2:00 and retired uh staff sergeant John bus joins us once again in studio to uh guide us through this regimental funeral for Constable Rick O’Brien as he did

Last year for Constable shayin Yang and thank you again for being with us um what we’ve seen today so far again having Community come out but also having the community of First Responders be able to come together is very important for a sense of closure a sense of mourning a sense of

Fraternity yes and it’s not only for the family and his co-workers but it’s also for the for the First Responders themselves to see what would happen if something happened to them they can get some comfort in that not I’m not saying it’s going to be the be all and end all

But it is something that uh is in people’s minds I’m sure well it it shows their service matters m we we take it seriously and as a society show this gratitude to conable O’Brien and and to The Wider community of law enforcement uh Specialists as well

Because they do put their lives on the line every day we’re seeing uh a shot of the Canadian flag there um just at the entrance to the Langley Event Center parking lot and that is was sort of the last uh part of the procession I don’t

See any other um procession uh pardon me Members going through as part of the procession so it looks like it has indeed wrapped up we’re looking inside the event center now John uh just walk us through because when the service starts we’ll stop talking but walk us

Through a little bit about what we can expect in here well first of all the uh many of the dignitaries are now being uh seated and there will come a time that the family uh will be brought in I believe that they won’t be brought in for a period of

Time but right now there’s still making way and making sure that people that need to be seated are seated and some of the dignitaries you refer to were talking about top brass at the RCMP the commissioner of the RCMP the Deputy Commissioner of uh British Columbia MH superintendent he’s a Deputy

Commissioner Dwayne McDonald no so the two of them will be there as well as a number of other people including the Detachment Commander at Ridge meows earlier I thought I I I thought Dwayne McDonald some of Dwayne McDonald’s comments at the First Media opportunity where they addressed the death of

Conable O’Brien were interesting and we had somebody who lined the parade route talking about showing up to show support for the RCMP which has taken some punches and you know sometimes there’s a there’s a negative con ation to that work and she wanted to be there and and Deputy Commissioner McDonald referenced

That saying that it it’s dangerous for members out there now with with the kind of repeated criticism a lack of respect for authority and and that makes it dangerous for people in uniform to do their jobs was it were you surprised to hear him say that or was that kind of

Right on the money for what your experience has I had an opportunity to work with Dwayne a long time ago and and it comes from the heart yeah he knows what he’s talking about yeah and that he’s had to go through this a number of times now MH uh as Deputy Commissioner

You know it really brings it home there’s nothing like one of your own police officers that you uh supervise getting killed in the line of duty and that uh it hurts yeah you’ve experienced it yourself uh just bring us back to when you were with Richmond

Uh in 2002 Jimmy y was killed and Jimmy was on my watch and uh it stayed with me ever since you know to lose somebody that you worked with that you supervised that you wanted to make sure was safe and uh I got to know his parents quite well and they were

Often at Depot for the National Memorial and uh yeah it it it’s certainly not something I ever want to have happen again but it is is something that does happen and U we were able to go through it and you know you say that name and um Jimmy in and John Davidson

From abbottford and um uh shayen Yang and um Adrien Oliver Oliver who as you mentioned had sadly was the first RCMP member for whom uh Sarah Becket but Adrien Oliver the first RCMP M RCM member for whom the service was held in the Langley Event Center uh we don’t we

Won’t forget these names I know uh I lost two troop mates so when you go through training you go through with 31 other at that time men and uh I lost two troop mates one was shot and killed in Northern British Columbia Mike budai and another trop mate Chris rigar who was in

Our wedding party my wife and I when we got married wow uh Chris was in the wedding party so yeah they stay with me yeah two two out of 31 you know those are and if you look even further so we were in troop 10 troop nine lost a person Tommy our Richmond

Detachment in 1980 and Barry broy was killed in 2070 oh sorry 1978 so four within 96 police officers yeah and when you when you say troop you’re referring to your class at Depot to same yeah okay so we joined at the same time the same week and we went through training all

Together and you build lasting friendships and relationships and you get really close to them I’m sure well we can see uh on the other side of the screen there are people filing into the Langley Event Center and and finding their seats but on the way there also no doubt Making Connections friends and

Co-workers and uh yeah getting settled in for what will be a meaningful and likely very emotional funeral service and I’m sure it was quite a sight for uh the folks in Langley who came out today to pay their respects to Constable O’Brien our Sonia suer has been out on

The procession route speaking with some of those people Sonia thanks Sophie yes um you can see behind me things are kind of resuming getting back to normal now that the procession has made its way inside um but I just wanted to take a moment to share with you uh a little exchange that

I happen to witness um an RCMP officer from kitam uh wasn’t comfortable appearing on camera but he walked up to Tina Evans the woman that we spoke with a little bit earlier and gave her a heartfelt thank you and teared up in that moment and just said you know I

Really appreciate your words thank you for your positive support for the police service and it just drives home the feeling that all of law enforcement officers are feeling today um he told me that he’s feeling emotions he’s just not prepared for um and he was you you know

A kit Lamar CMP officer his colleagues were some of the first people on scene uh when Constable Rick O’Brien was killed so it was a it was a heartfelt moment um not on camera but I did want to share it with you because I think it really highlights the the small

Exchanges that are happening here today between community members and between police officers I know it means the world for them for the community to be out here today and showing their support and there are other ways that the community can show their support we know that the National Police Federation

Benevolent Foundation launched a GoFundMe campaign uh shortly after conable Rick O’Brian’s death uh that GoFundMe has now reached more than $160,000 um the foundation writes Rick was a beloved member of Ridge Meadows RCMP Detachment an exceptional committed colleague a loving and caring husband devoted father and friend to many he

Cared deeply about making a difference for young people and will be remembered for bringing a smile to any room Rick spent his life in service of others and took great pride in wearing the RCMP uniform he will be forever missed and with that the organization is asking for all Canadians to wear red

Today with the hashtag wear red Wednesday we know the funeral is already beginning but uh there is still plenty of time to Dawn your red attire and show your support to the RCMP members and also all law enfor members at large I think it it it really does mean a lot to

Them today I’ll I’ll throw it back to you Sophie and Chris yeah no doubt it does and what a great moment to witness and and thank you for sharing that story Sonia that’s a beautiful moment and you know if you are not able to be a part of

This service today um and you happen to be out in the public today and you see uh a first responder a police officer whether Municipal whether RCMP you can say thank you as well I mean I I I imagine that doesn’t happen often I’m sure it does at some points

Yes but uh what it’s does that happen it does it’s nice to hear and remember we uh we I think psychologically we tend to think of the negative things before we think of the positive things that’s just the way are we’re made up but yeah there are people that have said Thanks it

Means something yeah I imagine that will happen quite a bit today um for all of the uh you know punches as Chris had had referred to them that the RCMP have taken or other police forces have taken in the last uh while um I think the public knows that uh you’re here to

Serve and Protect and and you go in where others are are running away and and and I understand too that uh we always don’t make the right decisions but many of the decisions are made in a split second where you don’t have the ability to ponder it for two and three hours you

Get maybe two or 3 seconds to react and sometimes that reaction could be either be taken the wrong way or is the wrong thing MH yeah yeah and there’s much to learn about what went down in the hallway of that condo in kitum too I mean we’re there’s a murder

Investigation that is underway uh that’s going to look into the circumstances of Constable O’Brien’s death and and the procedures that were followed on that day and there obviously there’s a time for that but uh but today it’s really just acknowledging that he went on a day to do his

Job and and he died and there are a couple of other people that were injured that will it will remain with them for the rest of their lives no doubt as you well know yes yeah I still have people coming up up to me and tell me that

Where they were the day or the night that I got shot because it had that much of an impact on them and their service m is it does a day go by you don’t think about it yes that’s good more and more now that’s good good that’s a healing

Journey but one that I’m sure that lasts will last your life yes and and the funeral service is a big part of that healing Journey as well as we uh wait for everybody to take their seats and and settle in at the Langley Event Center thousands on hand uh to celebrate

The life of constable Rick O’Brien this as we’ve mentioned John is a regimental funeral it follows all sorts of um protocol you’ve got your handbook as you told us earlier um I imagine it must be very overwhelming for the family who for any family who no doubt would there would be some element

Of shock still I’m sure for them but ad thousands of people to the ceremony and uh it must be very overwhelming I would think it is but uh the way we’ve uh structured the critical injured Fallen member um process there are family leas on people that do nothing but lias with a

Family and take care of their wants and needs during this period of time which is something we didn’t have in the past I mean it was all left usually to uh the chaplain or some other religious person to do and there’s more to it than that

There are quite a few things I mean just little things how are they where are they going to get paid uh you know what’s going to happen in the next week or two those are all the things we try to help them throughh and there’s such a diversity to

The to the ranks now when you know a a chaplain would have been fine for 99% of of the force maybe a century ago it’s much different today and and there are different religions there are no religions there are people from very diverse backgrounds and and managing how

They get through that grief is Paramount and it’s good to know that there are some supports there for them well there are family members that are new Canadians that have no idea of what’s Happening Here Yeah and uh yes it was a lot more uh straightforward maybe 50

Years ago when I started thinking about joining because it was all men at the time and it was predominantly uh Caucasian men and so it’s changed and I think it’s changed for the better and it’s changed to reflect Canada yeah for sure and and that was obvious in

Watching the procession too and you see the different uh faces backgrounds ethnicities going by all of them very proud to serve and a lot of it changed now with the uh Charter of Rights and a number of other policies being changed that doesn’t require mandatory retirement and also there was a time

That you couldn’t join if you were 28 years old you’re too old or you weren’t a certain height and this and that and that’s all changed it’s gone by the wayside so people can get into a career that they always wanted later in life as Constable O’Brien did in his mid 40s I

Guess it would have been yes um going to Depo you know probably at the age of 43 or so and uh it’s not something I would have wanted to do when I was in my 20s think about what was happening at age 43 but now it’s not uncommon yeah no we see e

All right we’re about uh 13 minutes from the top of the hour at 2:00 when we expect the funeral service for conal Rick O’Brien to begin uh and if you’re just joining us and and even if even if you aren’t you’ve been watching us the

Whole way this is a man who made a choice late in life to be become a member of law enforcement because he just felt it was the right thing to do it was a calling early on in his life and he wasn’t able uh to live it when he

Tried to join the Toronto police when he was younger it didn’t work out uh but finally was able to live that dream and join the RCMP 7 years ago and serve at the Ridge Meadows Detachment and he did you know a number of other things in uh his earlier years

But I think they all prepared him for this point John where he decided to revisit that dream of becoming a police officer he worked as an educational assistant he worked with youth he himself um from what I’ve read is uh he himself had had experienced huge challenges in life um a period of

Homelessness even at at some point in his life so uh you know we talked about there was a time when if you were past the age of 28 you couldn’t join the RCMP but these life experiences now that he would have had before joining up I think like they would have helped I’m

Sure they would have and just a little bit of an explanation why first of all you couldn’t be a certain age to join and also you had to be a certain age to get married you’d have to put four or five years in and I finally figured it

Out or somebody told me there was a the reason for it was they could move a single man very quickly overnight to another Detachment when you’ve got families when you’ve got homes you’ve got everything else it’s much different yeah yeah and talk about maybe about that requirement then versus today

Because staying in the community or being a part of a community is seen as important to to policing and and are officers still getting those uh assignments in remote regions of Canada at the rate that they were back in the day uh simple answer is yes because

There’s still a large a strong need for people in the north as there is through British Columbia but in my example from myself I joined from North Delta BC actually went to Siri Detachment and joined actually today uh 47 years ago wow and so I know what they’re talking

About when they want people back in their community and I came back to Burnaby which wasn’t my own Community but very close and I was able to stay my entire service in the Lower Mainland H very lucky and I I have other family members who are who are members of uh

The RCMP in Manitoba as well my sister of course is VPD I think Sonia su’s brother brother is a ispd is uh SPD or he’s VPD he’s VPD as well um so you know it touches all of us uh in a in a very meaningful way uh when something like this happens and

When your loved one puts on their uniform and heads to work or in some cases isn’t wearing a uniform but still uh performing the duties of law enforcement and uh this is an important process to go through I think for for all of us to acknowledge the sacrifices

That they make every day we did get some shots earlier and and very interesting part of this service to me John and you brought it up when we were here for shayin Yang’s funeral is the drum Altar and the place that that holds in the history of the RCMP and in military

Service as well but that’s kind of a hold over from from those old days of military service isn’t it yes and uh after a battle if they wanted to perform any kind of service they didn’t have an altar particularly you know out in the field after after a battle and so what

They did was construct an altar from the drums there actually a specific plan and a layout for the drums and you’ll see that later when the gon I believe it’s been already laid mhm is up on the uh drum head and there are all these little things that um are tradition that are

Important parts of the regimental funeral but what why are they so important why do they why do we continue them today well most of the actions that take place today are done for a reason and if you know the reason you know the significance of it and and and if we

Keep that tradition alive you know 10 20 30 years from out people will still maintain that tradition if it’s appropriate mhh it the uh I was sort of getting into this a little bit earlier but the regimental funeral as I said might be a bit overwhelming for the family of the

Fallen officer can they choose not to go through this process yes oh yes it’s up to the family it’s in consultation with the family uh uh liaison person with the commissioner’s office with uh you know the warrant sorry the uh core sergeant major there’s a discussion and they have

Well I would hope that they they approve it but there have been a number of regimental funerals or sorry funerals that weren’t regimental because the family didn’t want it right I wasn’t I haven’t been specifically involved in those but there have been times yeah it’s it’s hard to imagine not

Having the opportunity for all of these First Responders and others in law enforcement not to pay their respect I understand that’s a very private uh decision for families and and I can fully understand because not doing everyone is going to be focused on them for that period of time it’s tough yeah

It’s a difficult situation I mean you look look at this shot right now and that’s uh a lot of people in a in an arena who are there for Constable Rick O’Brien there’s that drum alar I was referring to earlier and can you tell we’re a long way from our monitors in

This Studio here but but can you tell if the gon has been laid I cannot see it because of the shadows and again the gon is that uh special very uh special flag is it marched in yes formally yes if it hasn’t been done or so already because there’s portion of it

We missed mhm imagine a lot of these members reflecting if they knew Rick O’Brien reflecting on their friendship with him or their friendships with other members they’ve known their own service and other people that have been killed in the line of duty that they’ve worked with all those memories come

Back and as we said um First Responders from all over there’s cam loops fire rest rescue I think earlier we saw Peele Regional Police from Ontario mm many members of the different branches of the Canadian military as well represented in the procession the Army saw some from the

Navy we saw Park Rangers Park Rangers that’s right Vancouver Park Rangers all of them here to pay respects to Constable Rick O’Brien and the Master of Ceremonies today is corporal Alex baru um comfortable in front of a mic no doubt yeah he’s uh many of our viewers might recognize

His name or his face from um press conferences on various matters R CMP related over the years he’ll open it up with some welcoming remarks once things get going at 2:00 and then um the marching on the gon will happen after that Bearer party and the family will enter as well and the

Remainder of the formal funeral service will begin well here are some tributes to Constable O’Brien as well from uh some of uh his fellow members of The Ridge Meadows Detachment um some of his friends with and within and and out of the uh RCMP from his sister I believe

Will be speaking as well on behalf of the family and we’ll get to learn a little bit more those of us who didn’t have the fortune of knowing Constable O’Brien personally we’ll get to know a little bit more about him today and we might learn a little bit

About him from the music choices too with the photo slideshow when it’s uh when it’s wrapping up uh some of the music chosen for him Sound of Silence by Disturbed Thank you Led Zeppelin he obviously liked to rock and uh the lead Zeppelin I Disturbed I don’t know no I

Was thinking it was Sound of Silence by Simon and Garfunkle little little different version of it for sure hover okay but you get a sense that uh the consel O’Brien uh liked to rock and a lot of people will be remembering that part of his personality too today as

Well also like to play football yeah he’s a member of the Langley Rams football club too and uh many of his teammates I’m sure are remembering him fondly today as well look inside the Langley Event Center this afternoon Langley of course uh Constable O’Brien’s Hometown uh

That’s where he was living and uh he served in Ridge Meadows Detachment from Maple Ridge and Pit Meadows but lived in Langley so that’s why we’re at the Langley event center today and you could see all those First Responders gathered to pay their respects I think we might be seeing is

That Elan or sturl that we’re seeing from behind walking up maybe we are getting very close only a couple of minutes away now from the top of the clock at 2:00 when the formalities are set to begin it was a quick procession today John I think you know we we all were a

Little bit surprised with how quickly and efficiently they got everybody inside the Event Center makes a big difference too if you use eight of breast rather than four which a normal troop column and that could have had an impact on it as well but I actually

Closing some of the roads for that brief period of time must have helped as well for sure is that you say four is the typical number but they would have made that conscious choice to do eight for what reason just to get more people in as quickly as possible because eight

People can move as quickly as four yeah but not when they’re in a row I think we’re seeing the Paul bears oh and there’s Premier David eie oh already seated quite see who’s beside him yeah the light’s not conducive to identify people there think we see some pictures of

Constable O’Brien on the stage there and as you mentioned Chris will have a slideshow as well so mhm uh see a little bit more of the of his personal life his personal private life when the casket comes in the family will come in everyone has to everyone has to get their dress

Uniform pressed or cleaned and ready make sure it hasn’t shrunk in the closet that’s how it works okay that can happen we mentioned uh as well a number of dignitaries are there top brass from the RCMP uh commissioner Mike Dam Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald BCR CMP commanding officer superintendent

Wendy not sure how to say her last name John mayat yes Ridge meow RCMP Detachment Commander she is there core sergeant major Al MC camridge and sergeant major Heather Lou as well among those who will be a big part of the ceremony today we’re right at

2:00 no doubt this will be starting any second now and when it does we’ll be quiet and allow you to listen to the tribute to Rick O’Brien and his life of service e for for good afternoon and welcome I am Corporal Alex buub and I will be your master of ceremony this

Afternoon as we’re about to begin the service please turn off your cell phones photograph out of respect of the Sol nature of these proceedings please refrain from recording or taking pictures during the service unless you’re a designated photographer or media the rmp would like to respect fully acknowledge that our gathering and

Work today is happening on the ancestral traditional and unseated territories of the seamu matki qulin and Katy First Nations the service will begin with the marching on of the gon theice the gon is the Royal Canadian Mountain police’s consecrated regiment gentle color it Bears the theater honors award

To the Northwest Mounted Police the Royal Northwest Mounted Police and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police for service alongside the military in times of armed conflict it is customary for the gidon to be carried on on the occasion of a regimental funeral and draped on an altar of drums all persons shall remove their

Headdress at this time a reminder saluting is not required when your headress is removed at this time please stand for the marching on of the Rane M Poli gon followed by the procession and conable O’Brien’s family let for right turn TR party slow Mar bear rest rest rest rest rest

Rest Fair party slow March for for well this is a very somber part of the ceremony as the PA bearers bring the body of conable Rick O’Brien up to the front of the Langley Event Center and this is no easy task John bus is here to

Describe how they’re able to do it in unit inent the uh the caskets several hundred lb it could be 3 and 400 lb depending on the the type they have and to uh march with a casket is very difficult because if you go right foot left foot then

You’re going up and down so what they do is actually they will go off the inside foot first and then the outside for foot and that’s when you see the casket almost level so it’s not bobbing up and down and they were able to turn in unison and I believe we’re seeing now

Conable Brian’s family taking their seats as well turn turn quick mark John we just saw the bearer party lay some items down on top of the the casket what were those the first one that was laid down was the ston and then I believe the second was the metal he’s he actually

Had one metal from the provincial government and also a clasp or sorry a Dev for his Brave act several years ago then his U Sam brown belt will be laid on there and his loved ones his family laying white roses on top of the casket as well

Yes it gives them an opportunity to participate mhm we will begin the ceremony with the singing of our national anthem I invite Miss Marie Huey to sing our national anthem oh okay our home and native land true patri love in all of us Come God keep a land Glory us and free Oh Canada we stand on guard for the Oh Canada we stand on God for Thee please be seated we are here today to honor our fallen hero conable Rick O’Brien of Ridge Meadows Detachment Ro Canadian Mount police and to recognize the ultimate sacrifice he has made in the line of duty to keep our community safe Mery thank you for joining us today your

Prayers and acts of kindness have touched us and demonstrate your support and the respect you have for our members and their families thank you I would now like to call upon rid medows R CMP chaplain Greg Dalman for the opening remarks it is so good that we have all

Will come together for this time and this place to remember and honor conel Rick O’Brien this is a challenging moment but this place is filled with a lot of love and huge support for all who have gathered to lift the hearts of one another a special welcome to Nicole and

Your family I thank you for the opportunity to serve you and the rsmp on this significant day I wish to express my deepest sympathy to all of you the RC also extends their deepest condolences to you and the family they appreciate you allowing them to share in The Grieving of their fallen colleague

Consal Rick O’Brien to Nicole and the children Taylor Braden Bryce Cindy Chelsea and Isaac Rick’s father Rick senior and sisters Cindy and Christina and the rest of the family it has been an intense and emotional number of days to the members members of The Ridge Meadows Detachment

Your worlds have been shaken Rick had worked his way into your hearts and lives to leave a lasting impression to the rest of the rsmp present the other police departments and First Responders thank you so much for honoring Rick and his family today we know all of you have been touched in

Various ways and to our honored guests we thank you for coming and for your presence and support in this very sensitive time Nicole what a significant moment support and honored by those close to Rick and an amazing huge RCMP team too many to begin to name those who have Faithfully

Stepped up and cared for you in so many ways these past days from all of us to that RCMP team thank you so much this will be a time to remember but also a time for some hope to help with the healing that we all need is my

Privilege as the chaplain of the Ridge Meadows Detachment to serve you this day and to now bring the invocation let us pray dear God you know what is upon the hearts and minds of each person here today in your love may you fill this place with your spirit and meet each

Person where they are at some are morning deeply others just feel numb others are struggling in other ways in your grace and power minister to each person here this day for those who will participate give them strength and peace to share what they have prepared amen Rick’s family ask that a passage of

The Bible that was significant to them and to Rick be read today it was a passage that Rick’s dad and mom would often pray over their children in fact a copy of this hangs in their home even today it is Psalm 91 you’ll find it on

The back of your program if you would care to follow along it reads whoever dwells in the shelter of the most high will rest in the shadow of the Almighty I will say of the Lord he is my refuge and my Fortress my God in whom I trust surely he will

Save you from the Fowler snare and from the deadly pestilence he will cover you with his feathers and under his wings you will find Refuge his faithfulness will be your shield and Rampart you will not fear the terror of night nor the arrow that flies by day nor the

Pestilence that stalks in the darkness nor the plague that destroy at midday a thousand may fall at your side 10,000 at your right hand but it will not come near you you will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked if you say the Lord is my refuge

And you make the most high your dwelling no harm will overtake you nor does disaster will come near your tent for he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways they will lift you up in their hands so that you will not strike your foot against a

Stone you will Tread On The Lion and the Cobra you will trample the great Lion and the serpent because he loves me says the Lord I will rescue him I will protect him for he acknowledges my name he will call on me and I will answer him

And I will be with him in TR trouble I will deliver him and honor him with long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation thank you chaplain dmen Mery conable O’Brien’s family has asked for a musical tribute It is Well to be sung by Miss Marie Huey when peace like a river attended my way when Sorrows like sea Billows roll whatever my L thou has taught me to say it is is well it Is Well with My Soul It Is Well with My Soul It is Well it Is Well with My Soul though Satan should buit though

Tri should come let this place Assurance Control that Christ has regarded my heless Sate and had sh his own blood for my soul It Is Well with My Soul It is Well it Is Well with My Soul my sin oh this Bliss of this glory is part my sin not in part but in whole is nail to the

Cross and I bear it no more praise the Lord Praise is the Lord of my soul It Is Well with My Soul It is Well it Is Well with My Soul but Lord is for thee for thy coming we wait the sky not the grave is our go oh Trump of the

Angel oh voice of the Lord blessed hope blessed rest of my soul it is Wor with My Soul It is Well it Is Well with My Soul thank you Miss huy I would now like to invite conable Ben Stevens and Corporal Pete Westra to provide the eulogy in September of 2016 at 44 years of age Rick O’Brien Was preparing to graduate depo and start his

Dream job with the RCMP one of the Rick reasons Rick wanted to become a police officer was because he wanted to show kids that police officers were there to help and that they could be trusted his soon Tobe wife Nicole who he could not stop telling me about provided

Him the final bit of Courage required to fulfill that dream my name is Pete Westra and I’m so grateful that I had the opportunity to be Rick’s field trainer to work alongside him and to become his friend when he first started it was apparent very quickly how kind and

Compassionate he was he related with all clients very easily uh but he had a special place in his heart for children as soon as he was allowed Rick would attend events on his own time to speak with kids while he was in uniform every 16 weeks Rick would Dawn

The uniform and visit with multi barrier Young people with the goal of being a positive influence in their lives Rick loved to attend schools any chance that he got and he cherished all the positive interactions that he had with youth he kept a picture in his work

Cubby of a drawing he received from a class of kids this clearly meant something to Rick many people here today knew Rick personally and many listening to this are here to honor man they would have been lucky to know but I wonder how many people here knew that Rick was actually only 13

Years old true story as a leape baby Rick should have had his 13th official birthday this coming February maybe this explains why Rick was so happy to embrace his childish side as Rick gained more experience and became more comfortable at work he began to treat his co-workers more like his

Siblings he could poke and pester with the best of them when I heard about how Rick would take his sister Christina’s doughnut and lick it before putting it back I knew we were talking about the same person but if Rick pestered you you also knew he would be fiercely loyal to

You Rick was always talking about Nick and the kids of his blended family he would fondly refer to them as The Brady Bunch Rick loved all his kids dearly Sydney Taylor Chelsea Isaac Braden and brce he loved you all and he would tell anybody who would listen Rick also loved his siblings and

Parents and was especially close with his mom he would often text mom during shift and ask her to pray for something specific he was dealing with when Rick’s mom passed away this year it was extremely hard for him but he would also want me to tell

You about his Sports he loved his Sports he loved the Rams Blue Jays Red Wings Vancouver Giants he couldn’t get enough often using it as a social event inviting friends out as well Rick began playing hockey again in in recent years and he was always the

First to claim his spot on the ridge medals team for the cops for cancer hockey tournament and he was probably actually the only guy over 40 that was still improving his game Rick also had a grumpy side although we like to joke that he wasn’t very good at staying

Grumpy one of his watch commanders Scott Grimmer remembers Rick walking in early for every shift with the largest cup of coffee McDonald’s would sell and a tired scowl on his face Scott would cheerfully welcome Rick back to work and ask had enough coffee yet Rick would try to maintain his scowl but

Would always end up smiling yeah I have Rick was so proud to be a police officer he had such a desire to make a difference and he succeeded in that I have numerous memories of Rick standing at my desk chatting uh when a file would be dispatched with some sort of vulnerable victim

Involved he would hardly wait for the dispatcher to be done talking and then say in his best grumpy voice which I’m sure a lot of you here could probably recognize fine I’ll take it as if he was trying to portray that he didn’t want the file but we all knew he loved to

Help those in need Rick knew when to joke around and when it was time to help Rick’s loss has devastated many people it was too early and it was senseless it will be felt by his family friends the entire Ridge medals Detachment the RCMP and the countless lives that he

Touched the world has changed with this loss we can’t say enough but we want to say Well done Rick we love you my name is Ben uh I’ve known and worked with Rick his seven years at the Ridge Meadows RCMP Detachment we work together on general

Duty for the Ridge Meadows CMP on bat and we were Partners in Pit Meadows working in the community response unit together Rick was supposed to be 51 but you wouldn’t know it he was really just a big kid he be found on his days off eating coca Puffs and Apple Jacks while watching

Cartoons Rick L the joke around and play pranks uh he really like to use the PA system on the police cars a way to talk to his colleagues and his clients I was reminded of this when his sister Cindy was telling us a story about meeting Rick while he was working

A shift in chillak he had gotten cdy to meet him at the local Tim Horton restaurant for a coffee and after that coffee while Cindy was walking back to her car rick flicked on the lights in the police car and he went over the PA hey you put your hands

In the air you’re under arrest Cindy tried to ignore him and get into her car as fast as she could there were a bunch of kids from the local high school out in the parking lot and she was quickly becoming embarrassed she knew he knew that she

Was and thought it was hilarious he then called her out specifically lady in the blue jacket with the black pants and the blue bag walking in the parking lot you’re under arrest put your arms up and you know he would have been laughing in his

Car rick was very young at heart but he also had a heart of gold if you ever needed help you could always count on him every time that I’ve ever asked him to help me move or go and pick up something heavy he always made himself available

He was genuinely happy to help and spend time with his family and friends Rick invested so much of his time for others he constantly volunteered his time to appear at schools youth centers local trade shows sporting events and anywhere else he that he could just so that he could show

People that police officers were regular people just like they are the police officers were kind and compassionate and wanted to spend time with people from every background and experience Rick knew that the presence of a smile in a uniform had the power to light up the eyes of a child or a person

Intimidated by the big man with a gun he always had stickers temporary tattoos pins whatever he could find to give to people Rick knew that he could make a difference in people’s lives and he truly made sure that he did you can see this with the several

Posts on social media and letters sent to the Detachment where members of the public have expressed their gratitude and shared their positive interactions with conable O’Brien and you can see that in the support and the attendance here at this service one of the common themes with

Everyone I talk to about Rick is just how proud he was of his family his wife Nicole his three children Cindy Chelsea Isaac and Nicole’s three children Taylor Braden Bryce he bragged about you all everyone knew how proud he was to be a police officer an RCMP officer and

Everyone said how proud they were of the type of police officer that Rick was he was a recipient of the award of Valor his pictures have been on the walls in the Pit Meadows Community Police office as well as a Ridge Meadows arec main Detachment in Maple Ridge his

Pictures can also be found proudly displayed in his wife’s uh Nicole store in Walnut Grove and could be found on the Shrine in his parents’ wall his sisters always asked why their pictures weren’t weren’t on displayed on the shrine and Rick used to tease him with a big smile on his

Face I was really proud of the police officer that Rick was he taught me a lot about patience and trying to be a better police officer about what is important and that is to make people feel better than they did let people know that they matter

Change lives for the better life is too short Rick would have been so proud of this service and everybody here he would have rolled his eyes and said uh whatever like he didn’t really care about everyone coming out for him but really he would have been smiling ear to

Ear thank you for giving them this great honor that he truly deserves in pleasing there’s a Brotherhood a Sisterhood you go through some really high highs and some really low lows through it all we are stuck together as a family and we help each other carry

On this is what makes Rick our brother and that’s what makes us all family we hurt now because we loved him we will continue to hurt because we loved him and we will heal because we love them now I’d like to finish this with a comment for Rick’s uh

Niece uncle Ricky is a hero and he always was thank you conable Stevens and Corporal Westra I would now like to invite Corporal Dan laclair and Mr John brenth who will pay tribute to Rick on behalf of friends and colleagues hi thank you all for coming Rick was my friend

And I so proud to have been his um Men of Honor at their wedding I still have with me the uh token he’s given me the day of their wedding with Nicole I would like to extend my condolence to Rick’s family to you Nicole to his father

Rick his sisters Cindy and Christina and to their children Cindy Isaac Chelsey Taylor Braden and Bryce and to everybody who knew or work with them I would also like to recognize first responses of all past who responded to the call that day I’m sorry for what has happened to

You and I hope that you can all make a full recovery I first met Rick over a decade ago back then I already was a member of drcp and he a school teacher we shared story about various challenges we face at work and how we learn to grow in from them

One day he and I went to a park and shoot a couple of arrows using my compound bow he lost one of my arrows and he felt so bad that he bought me a quivel full they were expensive I kept bugging him to go and buy himself one but he couldn’t get financial

Approval from his their wife Nicole so Rick did what an reasonable man would do in such situations Which was to build himself his own little crossbow with his students at school needless to say he didn’t have the required power to take down big gang but it sure was pretty cool he students were lucky to have him and he talked a lot about them although Rick loved teaching he’d

Been longing to become a police officer and to face new challenges we went on right along to together in Shi where he showed focus and asked me mostly intelligent questions not long after that he applied to join the RCMP and went off to Depo Nicole supporting him every steps

Of the way through this trying period we all know how pleasant devil can be Rick understood the risks his passion for his new found carrier carried and his actions awarded him a ble I’ve always been proud to tell people my friend was a hero our society has suffered much at

The hands of criminal organizations and the negative impact their influence and presence has on the people around us bold statements and money alone are not enough to make this problem go away and Rick understood that he didn’t require a uniform to take on the responsibility of serving his community in fact one

Evening after getting off shift he noticed a structure on fire called it in and went in to help through Rick and ni’s combined passions love and skills they’ve effectively contributed to the betterment of their community and public perception of policing it was Rick’s dream to become a

Member of the earth cm and he wore his uniform with pride he served his community with Excellence because he cared for for people Rick’s contribution and sacrifice will be felt far and wide and forever be remembered they say time heals all wounds and it does but scars are

Permanent continue to be there for one another for we don’t always know what others are going through Rick it has been a privilege and an honor to have been friends with you I wish I could have done more to help we’re also very proud of you we love you

And you would be missed thank you my name is John brandreth I’ve had the honor of knowing Rick and being his friend for 10 years over the past few days I’ve been thinking and reflecting about what I wanted to say about Rick as his friend what stories could I

Tell to let people know just a little bit more about who he was one thing I know for sure is that any stories that were told about Rick he would have wanted wanted them to be the funny ones as Rick had an incredible sarcastic sense of humor

So the more I thought about it I realized that if ID had one if I’d been able to have one last conversation with Rick I’m pretty sure he would have wanted me to talk about three things firstly he would have wanted me to talk about what it meant for him to

Be a member of the of the RCMP he definitely would have wanted me to talk about the love he had for his family his kids and the love of his of and the love of his life his wife Nicole and I’m pretty sure Rick would have wanted me to talk about sports lots

Of sports he loved all kinds of sports and knowing Rick he probably would have also wanted me to talk about how great he was at video games on his PlayStation 5 but since I’m not much of a gamer I’m not going to talk about that today Rick Rick absolutely loved being part of

The RCMP he loved everything about it including all of its traditions and its history and I can tell you as a proud Canadian sitting here today what I’m witnessing is one of the most incredible things I’ve ever seen in my life Rick worked with some incredible

People who I’ve had the pleasure of meet meeting recently as well Rick was also incredibly proud of the people that he helped and influenced over his seven years as an officer This truly was his dream job and he loved it but but even greater than the love he had for the

RCMP the love that Rick had for his kids his family and of course his soulmate and the love of his life Nicole was truly remarkable anyone whoever had the chance to see Rick and Nicole together as a couple could clearly see how much love they shared for each

Other Nicole would absolutely glow and radiate when she spoke about Rick she is so proud of him some of my favorite memories of Rick involve his ability to make Nicole laugh uncontrollably with his jokes and his silly one liners and his Goofy looks it definitely was a sight to

See I can honestly say that Rick and Nicole packed a lifetime of love and Adventure into their 11 years together when I first met Rick I quickly realized he was a huge sports fan and I think that’s one of the reasons why he and I became such good

Friends Rick’s love of baseball hockey and football was massive and Rick was also a bit of a stats nerve especially when it came to baseball if you asked him he could tell you the batting averages the slugging percentages the earned run averages of practically every player on the Toronto

Blue Jays roster both past and present and Rick was also never shy to call them out and yell at the TV or throw the O throw the odd remote control in its General Direction when they were not playing up to his standards Rick would also be very happy

To know that the Blue Jays are heading to the playoffs again this year and I plan to drink a few of his favorite sleam and honey Browns and raise a toast to him and watching some of the games and I know he will be there with

Me well Rick and I shared the same passion for baseball in the Toronto Blue Jays when it came to hockey well that was another story Rick’s love for the Detroit Red Rings was legendary in fact I think he owned at least four Red Wings jerseys complete with matching hats of course and before

He got his beloved black pickup trick Rick used to drive around in a bright red car with with more than one Redwing sticker on it too if I remember correctly for the past 5 years or so Rick and I would attend a conu Red Wings game in Vancouver and it was always a

Great event Rick insisted that we went very early when the gates opened so that he could get right down to the glass and watch his team warm up and he would proudly cheer them on and boy did he love boo and the Canucks and I think back now in the five

Years or more the of going to those games I don’t think the Canucks won any of them so you can only imagine the trash talking that went on in the car on the way home after that and speaking of car rides I recently heard this story from from more

Than a few of Rick’s Detachment mates that he used to like to pass gas in the squad car and laugh about it well I can totally relate to this story because in July my wife along with Rick and Nicole were in Seattle to watch the Blue Jays play the Mariners and we

Decided to take a to take an Uber from the hotel to the stadium well Rick also decided to pass gas in the Uber and let’s just say the Uber driver was not very happy and the windows were kept down for the rest of the trip after

That it’s stories like this and the many others that have been shared about Rick that make him who he is he was full of life and full of laughter I feel honored to have known Rick and I can honestly say there will never be another person quite like my friend Frederick Thomas O’Brien

Rick we will forever remember your laugh we will forever remember your smile and we will forever remember the impact you had on our lives I love you my friend rest in peace and we will take it from here God speed here with us today is Cindy Nan who will pay tribute to Rick

You are going to hear a constant theme throughout some of our speeches today so I apologize for that but for those who don’t know who I am I’m Cindy Nan I’m the older Rick’s two sisters I’ve been asked to by the family to share some stories about Rick because we’re telling

Rick stories I will do my best to keep it PG after careful consideration we thought it would be a good idea to frame these stories by looking at Rick’s main Love Languages which I have affectionately labeled as Believe It or Not Rick loved you our goal is to provide a snapshot of

Rick’s finer quality I’m not going to stand up here and say that Rick was a saint because I’m pretty sure lightning would strike also this place is crawling with cops and I’m pretty sure you all have built-in lie detectors Rick’s version of giftgiving Rick enjoyed cracking them off whenever and

Wherever yeah I’m going there I swear he would intentionally eat spicy food as well as dairy product to enhance the fragrance of this gift to you for all of you that can’t read between the lines Rick loved to fart both my sister Christina and I were extremely grateful extremely grateful F

When God blessed him with three beautiful children to share this incredible gift with his oldest daughter Cindy yes you’ve heard that right she was named after me Chelsea his middle child and finally Isaac who is currently telling everyone that he was Rick’s favorite Rick loved to spend time with

His kids whenever they got into a vehicle to go somewhere he received an immense amount of pleasure by cracking one off in the truck he would then proceed to lock the windows and the doors so that no one could Escape if you knew Rick personally and I

Asked all of you that had experienced this wonderful pleasure of his gift I’m sure 90% of you would raise your hands the other remaining 10% are just trying to be polite or you’ve blocked it out as a traumatic experience Rick’s version of words of affirmation I know it’s going to shock a

Lot of you but he was sarcastic believe it or not the amount of teasing joking and name calling that you endured I mean received from Rick was an indication of how much he truly cared for you at least that’s the way my therapist has explained it to

Me Our Sister Christina wanted to share a memory we were all out for dinner when Christina went to ask Rick if he had ever smoked a cigar unfortunately in instead of saying the word cigar Christina said scar in our family if you make a mistake

Like this we jump on it like a pack of wild animals in search of their prey so this gave Rick hours of ammunition as well as entertainment he would say things like scar mate and pass me the scar he also took to Facebook asking if any of his followers have ever heard of

The word scar Christina is still in counseling I’m pretty sure she left the dinner table crying too but that’s what we call an O’Brien event Rick’s version of physical touch growing up Rick displayed a great amount of physical touch these methods were deployed with a well-calculated strategic plan he would execute them with

Precision this consisted of unrelenting Wet Willies Mr Krabs NES rubbing his itchy head on you stop hitting your eles and my personal favorite when he would lay on top of you and say I’m a human blanket I’m pretty sure this is when we all learned the art of

Disassociation Rick adored our mom Pat O’Brien he had her wrapped around his little finger I’m not kidding when he was younger if he ever got into trouble with our dad Rick senior Rick Jr would run to her mom throw his arms around her and then look over at my dad with a

Smirk on his face all kidding aside Rick loved to give hugs some of our favorite memories consisted of his great healing hugs a gift that he inherited from my mom Rick would also give you a kiss on the cheek and always say I love you Rick’s oldest

Daughter Cindy would like for all of you to know that every time she had a school play Rick was there he would watch with pride and then he’d be the first first to present her with a bouquet of roses and a big hug Chelsea Rick’s middle child wanted to

Let you all know her best memory with Rick was when he took her and Bryce to the Seahawks game they had such a great time together Isaac AKA Rick’s favorite shared the most touching memory of all Rick had recently come out for a visit and him and Isaac were driving in Rick’s

Truck AKA Rick’s real favorite child the truck that is while driving Rick had to sneeze which took place at the exact same time that Isaac had to yawn I’m sure half of you have clued in to what takes place next for the remaining half Rich Rick sneezed directly into the blasting vents which

Ultimately created a sinus spray directly into Isaac’s mouth i’ just like to say thank you to Isaac for such a moving taught Rick Jr how to drive a stick and forgave him every time he crashed the car every time FYI that was a lot my mom loved Rick she

Would constantly remind him of how proud she was she would kiss him she would hug him and she’d pray for him my parents were so proud of Rick in fact when Rick graduated from Depo here’s an awesome story for you my parents designated an entire all for Rick some might say a

Shrine thanks Ben I don’t think anyone knew that Rick had two sisters up until today Rick loved to laugh and we hope that you were able to laugh with us as we remembered who he is and was I want to leave you with this if Rick loved you he loved you with

His entire being thank you Cole for loving Rick our family is forever grateful to you for loving him his kids and us your extended family we know that Rick is at peace probably the only guy in heaven listening to Led Zeppelin I know he is there with my mom

With our mom hugging her and smirking at all of us thank you I would now invite Stephanie Porter to offer a tribute on behalf of Nicole hello as a longtime friend of Nicole Rick’s wife it is my honor sorry to be here today to speak on

Behalf of her and her family and to share with you the words of love that they have written to Rick I’ll begin with Nicole’s family’s message Rick will be missed as a son-in-law brother-in-law and Uncle who was quick to laugh and even quicker to love Rick had a pure

Soul a kind gentle demeanor and enjoyed genuine conversation Rick will be remembered as probably preferring to be seated at the kids table eating cereal while watching cartoons or his beloved Detroit Red Wings and now a message from Taylor I can’t believe you’re gone it feels so wrong to visit the

House and not to hear your colorful language as you shouted at the TV during a sports game that wasn’t going in your favor or not to catch a whiff of the delicious meals you used to whip up in the kitchen now our family dinners consist of Mom’s questionable cooking that we

Used to tease her about I really miss you whenever I needed you you were always there for me you helped me through so many tough times easing the pain of loss and the stress of leaving our family home I know you despised having to dismantle and reassemble my bed twice

But you did it for me you were there for me in ways that no one else ever could be and I’m forever grateful for your love and support through all the ups and downs I believe you’re still watching over me I love you next is a message from

Bradden I will miss the laughs the endless laughs Rick never failed to make me laugh to make us all laugh laugh with Rick you could be having the worst day but within 5 minutes he had you smiling with Rick you could talk about anything especially Sports we bonded over Sports

Especially the Blue Jays he claimed to love the Blue Jays but it was more of a LoveHate relationship especially when they lost I’m sure Rick is super stoked that the Blue Jays clinched a playoff spot my favorite memories with Rick are always with sports they brought us together

I loved going to the field with him to throw the baseball around and hit some balls however my most favorite memories are playing stick and Puck on the ice I’ll always cherish those times and miss the fun times we had I love you Rick now a message from

Bryce it’s hard to believe that someone who’s been in your whole life won’t be there anymore I miss you super duper much Rick and I miss all the laughs and the jokes we’ve had together and although I’m pretty sure Ivy the dog was your favorite in the

Family in my mind I know that I was seems like there’s a competition going on here thank you for all the amazing dinners I will always love you and last I will read Nicole’s words Dearest Rick my love where do I even begin the night before we were so

Excited talking about this very day the day where we were jumping on an airplane to Paradise for 11 days 11 days of just being together no work no distractions no kids just us and here I am instead sending you off to a different kind of Paradise one that I was never prepared

For excuse me how do I ever imagine life without you when our whole life was planned around being together and watching the kids grow up getting older becoming grandparents and looking forward to all the adventures we were still going to take you were always such

A trooper when I came up with things to do I know you of often rolled your eyes and we thinking seriously do we have to but you went along with it anyway because you loved me and you wanted to make me happy oh the fun we’ve had we

Really did fit a lifetime of Adventures into the last 11 and 1 half years my very favorite thing about you is loving you and the way you love me back the love we shared will be the one thing I will cherish the most a once in a-lifetime kind of love a story book

Love a love that we both never knew existed I love loving you and I love our story you came into my life when I least expected it I remember seeing you for the first time it was those beautiful kind eyes and smile it didn’t take long

To learn what an amazing human you were on top of it all a beautiful human with a soothing voice kind caring compassionate thoughtful and considerate everything I could have hoped for in a partner and so much more you wrote me songs and poems and I even

Remember when you mailed me a CD you made to my work and then excitedly told me why you chose each song it didn’t take long for me to fall in love with you I always knew you were my gift from the universe exactly what me and the kids

Needed you not only loved me you loved my kids as if they were your own and for that we are all left more enriched and better for it you took each one of the kids Taylor Braden and Bryce under your wing and nurtured your own relationship with

Them although it wasn’t always easy I always appreciated that you stuck it out we shared many conversations about it all being worthwhile each relationship is different in its own way and you took the time to build and bond with each one with Taylor you were a protective

Father making sure she was always safe having heart-to-heart conversations about boys guiding her in what she should and shouldn’t put up with and making sure her car was always in running order you were her biggest supporter in the house when she decided to move out because you knew she was

Ready to spread her winks and fly bradden you bonded over Sports and both of your abilities to smack talk you instilled a gentleness in him that’s similar to yours both of you caring for kids that deserve extra attention you loved watching him play lacrosse and even though you weren’t

Always a fan of the sport you certainly became one of his biggest and made sure you attended as many games as your schedule would allow even in uniform if you had to watching you be engaged in conversation laughing and being sarcastic fastic trying to outdo one another will forever be etched in my

Heart and Bryce was only two when we met and I don’t remember a time when you weren’t in his life we were lucky to have a few trips that were just the three of us Bryce has always been a kid of a few words but boy did he not stop

Talking when you were around I loved watching you play and be goofy together during our Disneyland trip and our recent trip to the mar times last summer seeing how much laughter and joking went on between the two of you how much the two of you loved to gang up on me when

You were together made our trips once that I know he will never forget I know this summer you talked about how proud you were of the Box lacrosse player Bryce was becoming starting off as a gentle kid who didn’t like to hit anyone I remember

How excited you were when he laid out a few kids in that final Samy AMU game even making a trip over to the Penalty Box to see him while going through this process I had to spend a lot of time choosing photos that I could share with everyone

So they could see and get to know the amazing man you are I know how frustrated you got with me whenever I pulled out my phone asking you to take another selfie you would constantly bug me about the 20,000 photos on my phone and the many folders I have on my

Computer but now I have thousands of photos of you in them and I’m so grateful to have captured so many of our special and fun moments to me every photo is a gift I will look at them often and remember our life as one of love laughter and Adventure a life that

We built together and we’re proud of a life with our six kids that had so much more to fit into it I promise that I will be strong I promise to continue to be there for all of our kids loving them and supporting them the way we

Intended I promise to become a better cook so perhaps one day the kids will like your cooking or my cooking nearly as much as they liked yours I promise to continue to watch baseball and yell at the TV when the Blue Jays are losing I promise to still attend hockey

Games but I can’t promise I will ever cheer for Detroit I promise to make sure I get the grandkids that secret phone you wanted to get them so you could talk to them anytime and when they call me I’ll be sure to tell them stories about

You thank you for loving me and showing me what true love was meant to be thank you for loving our kids endlessly thank you for your patience I know you stood by me during some really hard Years thank you for being a positive role model in our kids’

Lives and for those within our communities thank you for showing strength vulnerability and demonstrating to our kids that no matter how old you are it is never too late to go after your dreams I will remember every kiss I will remember every touch and until we meet

Again I will love you and I will miss you and I will honor you every day you are my forever love and I will forever have your six I love you so much Nick thank you all for your kind words and a fitting tribute to Rick Is I would now like to invite commissioner Mike doam commissioner of the RCMP to say a few words sir conable Brian’s family right honorable Dominic leblan minister of Public Safety premier of British Columbia Mr REI honored guests RCMP colleagues law enforcement and First Responders veterans and

Friends I want to start by expressing my deepest condolences that’s far too formal of a way to express how raw this feels once again a senseless act of violence has robbed us of someone who is making a difference who is trying to make things better for all of

Us I’m devastated by this tragic lost and outraged that one more police police officer was killed in the line of duty the RCMP is one big family The Roots begin to Deo from there we grow together we celebrate together we support one another and we grieve together please know that the entire

Family shares your grief as does the national and international law enforcement and first responder Community we are here with you during these incredibly difficult time gospel Rick O’Brien’s death his enormous loss to his family and loved ones to the larger RCMP family British Columbia as well as

Across the country as well as the communities he served last week the British Columbia Law Enforcement Memorial honored Fallen members in this province just before that I was at Depo our training academy in Regina for the RCMP National Memorial sadly enough we added the Nam the three more Fallen police officers to

The honor role constables Yang drill and dami when I left that Memorial I hope to never have to add another name to that Monument regimental funerals like memorials are deeply meaningful Ceremonies for any first responder especially law enforcement they bring key Partners together and remind us how many people

Are affected by the work we do they allow us to pay our respects to colleagues we have lost and continue to grieve but they also serve as a stark reminder of the risk police officers face every single day simply by doing their jobs without knowing what the next call will

Bring we are the ones that individuals and communities rely on for help in their darkest moments con Brian gave so much of himself in his seven-year ex exemplary service with the MP he received the commanding officer commodation as well as recognition of Valor from the province of British Columbia for helping

To disrupt a violent home invasion his work contributed to the rescue of four adults and one small child and the arrest of four armed suspects the sad reality is the criminal landscape is increasingly violent the demands placed on officers are higher than ever and the dangers are painfully real

This means that our law enforcement Community is needed now more than ever and I am forever grateful for the sacrifices made by our members law enforcement and our first responder Partners it takes a special kind of person to choose to work in this field policing demands extra extraordinary dedication and skill

Outstanding professionalism and unflinching courage there are certainly easier ways to sered Canadians many with fewer risks but quite frankly I can’t think of a career more rewarding than this one like every member of the RCMP Constable Brian chose this Noble Path of service in order to positively contribute to enhancing the Safety and

Security of Canadians Rick made a positive impact in policing and everything he did he embraced his community and provided a model for others to follow Rick is and always will be a hero and we will carry on his important work as commissioner of the RCMP leading this great organization made up of

30,000 people I will keep doing everything in my power to protect the safety of every RCMP employee while they focus on protecting others and I call on community leaders and decision makers at all levels of government to do their part each one of us must support the vital work under way

To preserve peace and safety across this great country and I’m I’m counting on all of you on behalf of the RCMP and all the people that he served protected and inspired over his career I want to express my most heartfelt thanks and respect to consel Rick O’Brien thank you thank you sir melie

I would now like to invite Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald commanding officer of e divisions to offer remarks sir on behalf of all the men and women who work with and support the RCMP here in British Columbia many of whom are here today I extend our most profound condolences to Rick’s family his friends

And his colleagues we are here to honor our hero and to comfort Rick’s family his Detachment the force communities partners and a country who are all in mourning we’re here to process our pain and to cope with our frustration and our anger and we are here to celebrate the

Life and an AB of an absolutely remarkable man and a mounty someone who consistently closed gaps and stepped up when he was needed most conable Rick O’Brien Rick’s path to the RC P began when his family moved to chilak he was 17 years old and after completing school

He went and worked as an education assistant for eight years in chillak Social uh school district and also as a support worker for the Siri Association Rick’s passion for helping others made him an ideal candidate for the RCMP and after several years Rick made the momentous decision to change

Careers and join the force he saw a need a gap and he knew he could fill it Cadet O’Brien started his training in Depo on April the 4th 2016 as a member of Troop 1 and even though he was a mature Cadet he was a little quiet and reserved when

He first started but he was very focused on learning and improving he was part of the Depo choir and despite his best efforts I’m told he wasn’t able to get Led Zeppelin added to the song list but Cadet Oyen put in work he spent extra time with his trainers he overcame all

This challenges he gained his voice and his confidence and he earned his red Surge and his badge he was excited to return to BC after his training he asked to be posted in Lower Mainland so that he could be with his family he also hoped to continue to build on the many

Connections he had made prior to joining the force in his own words in the memo that we as mounties have to send to our first posting before we leave Depo Rick wrote and I quote I know my determination Drive and my interpersonal skills as well as my desire to help

People would be an asset to general duty and for future Specialties I am eager and thrilled to begin as a constable and look forward to my first posting in E division once he arrived at Ridge Meadows Detachment he settled in well working in the front line for a few

Years before joining the community policing unit and then crime prevention in Pit Meadows and then back again to general duty in the front line placing in Maple Ridge he was was quick to close the gaps whether it was bridging divides in the community forging connections with fellow officers and partners or

Extending a helping hand to those in need he had an uncanny neck for bringing people together for finding the most common ground even in the most challenging of circumstances whether it was spending extra time helping the homeless participating in events for residential school survivors or when doing many presentations about graduated license

Ing or bullying in schools Rick loved shirt day whether it was a pink shirt an orange shirt a hockey jersey Sports Jersey or just required someone to show up in red surge he was your guy and during Co when we were all uh required to socially isolate and distance the world became smaller

And in response Rick increased his Patrols in the Katy Community wed to assure them of his protective presence he’d stop and wave at kids along the way always bringing a smile to their face he found a way to close the gap he did a number of online presentations to ensure

That our most vulnerable youth were supported and Rick stepped up when faced with adversity as we’ve heard with just 8 months service conable O’Brien displayed calm leadership and courage when he and other members of Maple Ridge responded to multiple 911 calls of an actant and violent home invasion by

Armed suspects Des despite the inherent danger of confronting armed suspects a small team of members quickly formulated a plan and made entry to the residents they rescued four adults and a child and they apprehended the suspects he closed the gap on that day just as he did last

Friday when executing res search warrant in cilum it says something when multiply or multiple assessments reference Rick’s sense of humor his appetite for mischievous Behavior on the watch but also his realistic optimism and his ability to Wordsmith his recurrent reports in such a way that still have his supervisors

Laughing saying goodbye to one of our most noble protectors will never get easy he spent so much of his career closing gaps how do we now deal with The Gap left by his absence when we look at Rick’s life a phenomenal one sacrifice and service we see an unwavering dedication to

Community we see a man who made a conscious decision to change careers in order to put the lives of others above his own we see a person who cared deeply for others especially the most vulnerable because it was at the core of who he was conable Rick O’Brien regimental number

62890 you chose to serve and help others and you did so with distinction you were and are a hero who consistently closed CL the Gap and stepped up when we needed you the most you made a difference and to Rick’s family thank you for sharing

Rick with us we share in your grief your RCMP family is here for you always and we know that nothing we can say or do will ever ease the pain that you’re feeling but we do know that we will never stop being by your side wherever

And however you need us it’s what makes our SNP family special it’s made up of so many incredible people like Rick We Stand ready a sea of red to fill the Gap that left Rick has left behind we are so fortunate to have had Rick

Among our ranks he made us better let us honor his memory by carrying forward the values of Courage of compassion and unity that defined his service and it will take courage moving forward but we can take some of that courage from from Rick because he certainly had enough to go

Around we will never forget for For I For thank you e division pipes and drums band for the playing of Amazing Grace I will now ask Ridge Meadow RCMP chaplain Greg Dalman to come forward to provide the homly and offer the prayer for the RCMP we’ve had a great number of tributes recognizing the quality of Rick and

Enjoyed some great photos of Rick’s World and we’re him doing life with his family and friends thank you for sharing them with us today some of those things we or I would never have imagined but then again if you knew Rick it does make sense my experience with Rick started

Seven years ago when he started at Ridge Meadows he was like many other rookies facing all the forms and paperwork to be processed I would see him just occasionally times when I would visit the Detachment and be there in time it was great to see him engaging and

Resourcing other new members who had come after him seemed always to have time to help those in need and he worked alongside with a gracious spirit and for those of you who worked alongside him becoming friends and there are many of you we are grateful for all

That you added to his experience of being a police officer it was a pleasure to ride with him a number of times I saw him act with Integrity being straight up with people when he responded to calls he did it with respect even though those in his face did not deserve it at

Times when people were hurting his compassion was evident he had a big heart in sensitive situations and people mattered to him when file showed up he would step up and arriving on the scene there was just a strength in him to take responsibility and sort things out overall Rick served with Excellence

He reflected the very core values of the RCMP as he did as policing as a Chaplain we also would have some great and at times very serious discussions yes and with Leed Zeppelin and other heavy metal in the background we had fun talking and discussing a variety of things

Especially the last 3 to six months I would say our times together have led me to believe I would call him my friend and I too was totally shocked in the day when I received the news of his passing I too will miss him Nicole I heard of

His love for you and his desire to continue to build his relationship with you going forward and for all six of the children he wanted to be there for you and always was Desiring your best going forward we also like to talk about hoggy any surprise about that and shocking for

You Canuck fans yes he likeed Detroit when he found out recently actually only that my son-in-law was in the NHL he said it would only matter be excited if he played for Detroit well about 10 days later I texted him that my son just signed with

Detroit for this year he was excited for me when I could look forward to the season and had planned for time to time to review the games and the team’s progress I guess I will to watch the games and remember him each time I do as many of you know the passing of

Rick’s mother Pat unsettled Rick we talked about her and the Val valuable part she played in his life and how he missed her deeply interesting Pat’s celebration of life was September 22nd 2022 one year to the day before Rick’s passing I believed upbringing that his parents his faith and life Journey

Experiences which we’ve heard from the family today prepared him for his career within the RCMP what was built into his life in compassion and diligence made him the person that those on his watches knew today is a time to remember Rick but it is also time to mourn as we miss

Him Ridge Meadows members this is a time of great loss sorrow and even anger each of you is in a different place this day we hope you find Hope and healing for our hearts and minds but how so how can we go forward to do that we need truth

And understanding it is said that the truth sets us free from all of us we are faced with times in our lives when death intrudes and separates us from those we loved like today how do we deal with the loss and sorrow it can be overwhelming our minds

Are flooded with many questions the many what ifs that play through our minds or The elusive why questions for most of these questions there are probably little to no answers I would like to share and and some of the truths of Rick’s life that may answer one of the biggest questions facing us

Today let me start with a short story from the Bible it’s of a son who enjoyed home life with his father but one day he decided to strike out on his own he wanted to do life his way and sort of saddened his father life started good

But in time it did not turn out as he anticipated the son realized life with his father was better than where he was at but how could he go home finally after further reflection and and challenges which had increased in his life in various ways he eventually turned towards

Home it would be a big step to return home but something was drawing him as he approached home his father who had never given up looking for him saw him coming at a distance filled with compassion and the intuition knowing where his son was at he ran to him threw his arms around

Him to welcome him home as Rick and I talked it was interesting to learn that he grew up in a home where his father was a pastor in his teen years he actually accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior and shortly after that with his sisters was baptized in the church in those early

Years Rick actually sang and played guitar and bass in the church to help lead the Sunday worship over the years though Rick’s Faith sort of went up and down the Rick that I met and maybe many of you knew had the Detachment had a life that did

Not reflect the faith of his past today you may be shocked is when I was when he told me some of these details here’s an amazing turn in his life story and timing can be everything Friday September 22nd is well noted for what took place but on the

Previous Sunday Rick found his way into a church after the service he talked with the pastor who of whom I was able to confirm what I’m sharing with you today the Pastor said that Rick enjoyed the music because it was some of the same songs that he’ led in his church

Years back he went on to tell the pastor that he was feeling a need to move back towards church and the faith he once had from all that the pastor shared with me we agreed that on that Friday September 22nd Rick’s Heavenly Father embraced him and welcomed him

Home God knows our hearts before any changes in life can ever happen and have the chance to take place this answers probably one of the great questions of these days days a question that some from the Detachment have been asking me did Rick have any aspect of Faith or where is Rick

Now I believe from Rick’s faith and what it teaches in the moments of passing he went immediately to Heaven a beautiful place and into the very presence of God God today does not want us to worry God said do not let your hearts be troubled but believe in

Me the moment Rick passed Jesus was right there to accompany him to Heaven which was in an instant no long tunnel with a bright light and no debate at the gate he was in heaven is an eternal Place void of Sorrow pain sickness and death also he was re been reunited with

His mother and I’m sure they’ve had lots to talk about today Rick is just fine in fact he is more than fine he did not choose to leave us some today may ask where was God’s protection that we read about at the beginning of this service something was at work bigger

Than we may see or understand yes bad things can happen to good people even followers of God we know that if God allows things like this it touches his heart and is always for a much greater purpose precious in the sight of the Lord is the

Death of his followers it is still hard for those of us left behind we will mourn but we can do so with hope another question from the day is why why was it rick maybe maybe because he was the one who was ready ready to leave this world chaplain and psychologists and

Counselors can provide counsel and assistance after many crisis in our lives but for death each of us prep must prepare ahead of time and today Rick serves all of us as his passing helps us to face this reality one that we don’t often like to consider as in Rick’s case it can come

When we don’t expect it for everything there is a season and a time a time to weep and a time to laugh a time to mourn and a time to dance a time to keep silent and a time to speak a time for love and a Time For Peace

A time to be born and a time to die a time to embrace and a time to heal we need to be ready and ready also with answers which support and encourage family and friends in Troublesome Times Like These Rick’s life and faith in Jesus Christ gives us answers that give all of

Us hope at a time like this and may we be encouraged by the words as we remember Rick in the days to come to conclude I would like to read a short passage with you that has been used for generations to bring Comfort at times like today and it is Psalm

23 The Lord is my shepherd I shall lack nothing he makes me lie down in Green Pastures he leads me beside Quiet Waters he restores my soul he guides me in Paths of righteousness for his name’s sake even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I I will

Fear no evil for you are with me your rod and your staff they comfort me you prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies you anoint my head with oil my cup overflows surely goodness and love will follow me all the

Days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever let us now pray for the RCMP hi I come to you God with a request for your compassionate Grace for each person here Embrace this amazing crowd of RCMP members along with all the other police and First

Responders they need to feel your love and presence to be able to heal and go forward lift up those who are deeply hurting this group is a valuable force that all of our communities need to stand against evil that in our time seems to be increasing stand with them as they

Endeavor to uphold Justice give each person peace of heart and mind and the strength to stand for those who may be struggling the most I think specifically of the Ridge Meadows Detachment the evil of that Friday has hurt them enough we do not want them to

Continue to hold them down help them to find release from all their emotions including anger and guilt and replace it with anticipation of what tomorrow can bring still the storms that are raging in their hearts and minds and restore them to optimism hope and confidence

That they may once again step up and be the skilled members they are have been and can still be give them wisdom bless their work with Victory give them safety and take care of their families we lift up their families their spouses or significant others who may be struggling with

Anxiety remove their fears with the sense that life will be okay their children need to find calm once again trusting their parent will be okay as they return to policing for everyone may you restore to us our joy this I pray and may God make it so amen thank you Chaplan Dave Herman

We are now entering into a ceremony that is practiced by military and paramilitary organizations the RCMP as a regiment respects these traditions in a moment you’ll be asked to stand as a Bo the bo retired staff St Sergeant Dave Herman plays the last post last post is a traditional military

Call that signals the end of the day the centuries have been posted the camp is secure your duty is done in rest in peace the the pipe major h p of the E division pipes and drums will play the Lament The lament is to symbolically demonstrate the sorrow of separation from our loved

Ones Rick the final portion of the ceremony is R again played by the bugler r is the morning call that signifies a new day a new day for those that are left behind to carry on as they must do for Rick a new day to rise above his mortal duties

Please stand and those in uniform are asked to stand at Attention Pap D The For Please be seated did party for all right we’re approaching the end of the funeral service here for um conable O’Brien we learned some things about him during this service that were quite surprising to a lot of us but uh but it shows how much humor was a

Part of his life and what a prankster he was and how much love there was for him and and he had for his family we’re joined uh today by retired RCMP Staff Sergeant John bus uh can you explain to us what what is happening at this point there’re

Various items of kit uh like the uh statson uh his medals and awards and also Sam Brown that’ll be presented to various members of the family the flag will uh when it comes off the casket will be folded in a regimental fold and then given to his wife uh I’m

Not sure the order of who’s getting what uh piece of kit but the flag usually goes to the family and then the roses that were placed on dur during the uh ceremony itself will be given to other key members of the family and we see those uh items as you

Mentioned John taken off the top of the casket and now there’s a precise I was just going to say yeah there’s a way that they do this and handle the flag correctly yes and you’ll see some very uh significant or uh movements in order not only to

Fold the flag guarder but also to fold the flag and we folded in the style of the Canadian Armed Forces which is in a rectangle rather than the triangle that see people yeah a lot of people might be familiar with that this is a rectangle is the

Triangle it’s it’s an American that’s an American yes but many people have seen because of television and movies but this is a Canadian Armed Force regimental way of folding the flag and many of our Traditions come from the Canadian Armed Forces who got them from the British Armed Forces they are very precise

Movements let’s take a look at this and you’ll see that was two unders so they folded under mhm it should be followed by two overs I see okay and there’s the the overs much easier when you have nine sets of hands to make sure that it’s folded precisely here well

Eight sets of hands sorry and they uh and they bear a party Commander M making sure it’s done properly I wonder how many times they’ve practiced this quite a few and next steps then John for the casket uh they’ll carry it out of the langly event center and back to the hearse correct

Yes and the family will be there right that flag being presented now it’ll first go to the commissioner of the RCMP who will in turn take it I believe to his wife and this is the point in the service that it becomes all too final right great mark

I would like to invite chaplain Dalman to offer the benediction our time together has honored consel Rick O’Brian and I believe ministered to his family it has been good to Rally around so many great memories of Rick in a few moments after the concluding of the remaining aspects Rick’s body will

Be moved from this place this is the shell that has served him for 51 years but now concludes its purpose this will return to where it came from this is the form which we have identified closely with his stature his presence his smile but be assured of this fact Rick

The person that we all love and appreciate is not here but is very much alive it is good that we mourn for we have been separated from him and we will miss him but the kind of person he was which I’ve heard over the past many

Days he would want us all to continue to care for one another and then to step up and move forward life is still very much in front of each of us let us now pray for the family and now God as we conclude our time together remembering and honoring

Rick his life and his service we thank you for being present in your care for our souls this day we bring to you Nicole the six children Rick Senor Cindy and Christina and the rest of Rick’s family and friends they too will need to feel your love in powerful ways for the

Days that are still ahead may you give them hope because of Rick’s faith in you heal their broken hearts bring peace to their souls and restore their joy and now May the grace of God be with you all may he bless you with strength for today and for all of your tomorrows

Amen we will miss you Rick but by faith we will see you again thank you Chap and dman Mery please stand for the marching off of the gidon please remain standing for the departure of the barer party and conable O’Brien’s family here party bear party slow mark

And the bearer party led by The Ridge Meadows chaplain departing the Langley Event Center we’ve heard some funny poignant sad tributes to Constable Rick O’Brien he was an amazingly kind compassionate man we heard great with children loved Sports loved to joke love Lov the Detroit Red Wings yes fa party

Slow yes indeed he was a fan of the Red Wings a big kid at heart and as uh one of his friends pointed out a leape baby so technically only 13 years old yeah that was a very interesting detail but more than anything in those tributes to

Him was the love uh for Constable O’Brien by those who worked with him by those who knew him and and the love he had for his blended family which he jokingly referred to as the Brady Bunch and the love expressed in the letters from his wife and in the notes and

Messages from his children beautiful and it looks like that’s his family waiting to depart The Event Center as well yes we also saw some members John carrying the Stetson for presumably the bearer party yes because they need to uh put their headdress back on when they go

Outside I see and all of this builds to what’s known as the final salute yes as he as his body leaves the funeral um is the root lined how does that play out well it depends on how many people there are and how many people can line the route and how they

Get access to that route but there should be a a break a short break while they get lined up because what it is is a rolling salute so once the uh Funeral Coach passes them the salute comes up and then when it passes completely the salute comes down so it just continues

On until the end well it’s been a moving tribute to Constable O’Brien uh great for people in attendance and those watching to learn a little bit more about him and the reasons that he got into policing and and what he accomplished as an RCMP member all of it good one of his uh

Colleagues saying that he really had a desire to make a difference and he wanted to show young people that police were good people and good members of the community and they could help you and U made sure that you know during coid when we were self-isolating that they could see a friendly

Face yes because members are a part of the community well we try to be I’ve always tried to this ends the official service once the honor troop has exited all those in uniform are then invited to exit the venue for the final salute as the coach departs those on the main floor will

Exit out the rear right gate and line up persons not in uniform wishing to observe May exit and observe from behind the uniformed lines all persons please follow direction from of the ushers inside the building and parade NC’s outside please line on both sides of the road leaving the venue after the final

Salute all are invited to return to the main floor surface of this arena for refreshments those requiring a ferry Back to the Island shuttles uh will depart after the salute all other buses will be ready to be departing just before 5:00 p.m. May heard may have heard um a reference to

The honor troop John what what is the honor troop well they are and they have been uh troop mates people that uh that conable Brian went through training with and close friends uh that he’s worked with MH and we saw them exiting or among the first to exit the Langley Event Center

When it comes to that final salute there’s you know very close people to conable O’Brien family the honor troop will be among those first few as the hearse is pulling away and then some of the dignitaries like the commissioner of the RCMP and the commanding officer of

Of British Columbia they will be in that group mhm having seen the the whole procession and the um the tributes today and I just keep thinking back we did this less than a year ago for Constable Yang what are your thoughts it was an outstanding tribute to the

Man and it allow his family in the future to think back upon this not about the horrible things that happened several weeks ago but the kind things that were said and done today mhm it’s so important for for the family to have this but also as you mentioned

Earlier for other First Responders and people in law enforcement to have this to go through this for this to be a part of their uh trauma recovery really and to get to get past it it’s the first steps yeah yeah I also think a lot about the

Members who were with him that day and the ones who responded to that call that you never want to get no it’s it’s a horrible experience I’ve gone through it myself and I know lots of other members have done that as well but this is the way

We’ve learned to try to to come to grips with it there may be better ways but we’re still look at this I think coming together is is the right way coming together like this I think so and leaning into some of the traditions and Customs the comfort that

Comes with that I think makes a difference well when when you’ve got a ceremony and you understand the components of it it becomes part of what you do and this is one way we can pay tribute to our fallen police officers there is ongoing support for the family after this typically yes

There is and also for the police officers that were involved than anyone else at the Detachment where he worked that needs assistance well I know we are ticking down to the time that we have to sign off John but I just want to thank you for joining us today and for sharing

Your expertise your personal experience and and your knowledge of what is a very important part of the healing process for the family uh and for all all of us I think it’s important for the Canadian public to see these ceremonies to understand what’s happened and maybe have a little bit better understanding

Of what we’ve gone through I think it is you know um we’ve talked a lot about and you heard the commissioner and the assistant commissioner talk about the troubles that have faced um RCMP and police officers across this country in recent years um but at the end of the day when

Something like this happens I think the community does recognize the importance of those again who run into the building mhm and run into the dangerous situations to protect their communities so uh it’s comforting to see the turnout of support in Langley and I’m sure sure and Maple Ridge and Pit Meadows because

That’s where he served so I think he would be very grateful for that mhm as we are for his service and for yours John thank you John and that concludes our coverage of the regimental funeral for Constable Rick O’Brien we want to thank you so much for joining us and

We’ll have a full recap of the procession and key moments from the service on bc1 throughout the afternoon on global news at 5: and of course on the NewsHour at 600 thank you very Much

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