Ridge Meadows RCMP officer killed in line of duty in Coquitlam
Posted September 22, 2023 11:23 am.
Last Updated February 13, 2024 11:48 am.
A Ridge Meadows RCMP officer was killed and two other members of the police detachment, along with a suspect, were hurt after an incident in Coquitlam Friday morning.
The BC RCMP says officers were searching a home near Pinetree Way and Glen Drive around 10 a.m. when there was an “altercation with a man.” Police say that interaction led to three officers being injured and a suspect being shot.
One of the officers died at the scene, while the two other officers, along with the suspect, were taken to the hospital.
BC RCMP Commanding Officer Dwayne McDonald confirmed that 51-year-old Const. Rick O’Brien was the officer killed in the line of duty.
“O’Brien led by example. He had a great sense of humour. He was well respected by his peers and he was loved in his community,” McDonald said in a media conference Friday afternoon after O’Brien’s family was notified.
BC RCMP identifying 51 year old Cst. Rick O’Brien as the Ridge Meadows Mountie who died in the line of duty in Coquitlam today. More @CityNewsVAN pic.twitter.com/9Sgln6zZGp
— Martin MacMahon (@martinmacmahon) September 22, 2023
McDonald added the two other officers are expected to recover — with one having been released from the hospital, while the other remains hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. He shared the suspect is also in the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
He explained that O’Brien was born in Ottawa and had celebrated seven years with the Ridge Meadows RCMP. Months after O’Brien joined the detachment in 2016, McDonald said he quickly earned a commendation for his role in a home invasion investigation in 2017.
“Our RCMP family is once again gutted. We are just days away from the B.C. law enforcement memorial in Victoria where we honour our fallen, and we are just approaching the one-year anniversary of the murder of Const. (Shaelyn) Yang in Burnaby,” he said.
The BC RCMP says it has informed the Independent Investigations Office of BC, which will investigate the actions of police.
The Integrated Homicide Investigation has been deployed and will look into the officer’s death and the injuries to the others.
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B.C. public safety minister Mike Farnworth issued a statement on the officer’s death, saying he was “shocked and saddened” to learn about it.
“On behalf of all British Columbians, I offer my deepest condolences to Const. Rick O’Brien’s loved ones and colleagues. My thoughts are also with the other two officers who were wounded in this terrible incident,” he said.
“All three officers are shining examples of the extraordinary individuals who chose to take on the challenging mantle of protecting the public.”
-With files from Robyn Crawford, Charlie Carey, and Martin MacMahon
