Regimental funeral underway in Langley for fallen Ridge Meadows RCMP officer

A regimental funeral for a fallen Ridge Meadows RCMP officer is taking place in Langley Wednesday, with police officers and others from across the region gathering to pay tribute to Const. Rick O’Brien.

O’Brien was killed while attending a call in Coquitlam nearly two weeks ago.

A procession including RCMP and police officers from other jurisdictions, as well as other first responders, transported O’Brien’s casket to the Langley Events Centre at 12:45 p.m. The funeral service got underway at 2 p.m.

Road closures are in place around the area, with some not expected to lift until after the final salute to O’Brien at 3:30 or 4 p.m.

Related Articles:

• Funeral ceremony for RCMP Const. Rick O’Brien scheduled for Wednesday

• Procession for RCMP Const. Rick O’Brien held in Fraser Valley

• House of Commons holds moment of silence for fallen Ridge Meadows RCMP officer

  ---

Among those attending the funeral is Chris Voller, a director for the National Police Federation and 17-year RCMP veteran, who recently helped write an open letter asking for support and respect for O’Brien and all police officers who risk their lives doing their job.

“When our members fall, when we die in the line of duty, there’s an outpouring of support. It is appreciated and there are genuinely good human beings who come by our detachments and give their condolences,” he told CityNew while travelling to the funeral.

“But at the same time, I often see politicians or other individuals who normally would be undermining us, or speaking politically against us, who then come out and talk as if they are our allies and have our back every day.

“That is not the case and I don’t appreciate seeing the deaths of our members being used as political capital.”

He says it is “tough to swallow” when politicians use police deaths to grandstand.

“The ones who only stand up for us when we die, I have no time for that.”

However, Voller believes the public is generally supportive of police officers, and that is very much appreciated.

“It makes all the difference to see a child’s handwritten card on the signs for Constable O’Brien, to know that someone took the time out of their day to pay respect to a gentleman whose life was taken from him in service to that community. It warms my heart to see that.”

Voller says O’Brien is the fifth colleague he’s known who was killed on the job.

“This could have been any one of us, and that resonates with our membership. You don’t know what you get next. We go to each call, and each one could be this call for us,” he says. “Every member takes this very personally.”

O’Brien lived in Langley and leaves behind a wife and six children.

The 51-year-old Ridge Meadows RCMP constable was fatally shot on Sept. 22 while executing a search warrant in Coquitlam.

#LangleyBC – Traffic Closures – For the Regimental Funeral of Constable Rick O’ Brien – Traffic is restricted from noon to 4 p.m on 80 Avenue from 200 Street to 204 Street, 76 Ave between 200 Street and 202A Street . 202A St from 74B Ave and 80 Ave. Info courtesy of @BCRCMP pic.twitter.com/hPg2arOFMI

— CityNews Vancouver Traffic (@CityNewsTraffic) October 4, 2023

Two other officers and a suspect were wounded during the incident.

A 25-year-old Coquitlam man has been charged with first-degree murder and attempted murder.

CityNews will provide full coverage on-air and online through the afternoon, with the funeral ceremony live-streamed at CityNews.ca.