It was one year ago today (Sunday, Sept. 22) that a beloved Ridge Meadows RCMP constable was gunned down while on duty.
Since then, Const. Rick O'Brien's coworkers, family, friends, and community have been mourning his passing and paying tribute to the fallen Mountie in a variety of ways.
The most recent tribute was held Friday, in the form of a private ceremony at his detachment in Maple Ridge, where a cenotaph and a wall of honour were unveiled, commemorating what the officer in charge Supt. Wendy Mehat, described as Osa国际传媒橞riensa国际传媒檚 "legacy of bravery and compassion."
"Letsa国际传媒檚 treasure the moments we shared with Rick, and continue to be inspired by the light he brought into our lives," Mehat said during Friday's ceremony.
"Rick, we love you, we miss you, we honour you, and we will never forget you. Rest in peace sa国际传媒� from all your fellow officers, the team at Ridge Meadows, and our partners across the Lower Mainland," she shared.
O'Brien, a 51-year-old Langley resident, was killed when he and several other officers executed a search warrant in Coquitlam related to a drug investigation.
That was Sept. 22, 2023, and Mounties ended up in an altercation with a suspect that turned deadly.
O'Brien was fatally shot and died on scene, while a second Ridge Meadows officer was also hit, and a third suffering non-firearm-related injuries. Nicholas Bellemare has subsequently arrested and charged with first-degree murder in his death. The case is still before the courts.
Meanwhile, throughout the past 12 months, Osa国际传媒橞rien sa国际传媒� who had been a frontline and community policing officer during his seven years on the force sa国际传媒� has been honoured in the community through events such as a joint forces ball hockey jamboree and the unveiling of the Pitt Meadows youth lounge, now called the Constable Rick Osa国际传媒橞rien Youth Lounge.
"Constable Osa国际传媒橞rien was best known for his desire to create a positive relationship between law enforcement and youth in our community," noted Mehat.
"Constable Osa国际传媒橞rien could often be found interacting with youth at schools or youth lounges in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows," she added.
The jamboree is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to things that his widow, Nicole Longacre-Osa国际传媒橞rien, wants to do to honour her husband and continue some of his good work.
sa国际传媒淏uilding his legacy is the most important and most meaningful task I can do,sa国际传媒� said Longacre-Osa国际传媒橞rien, who is the driving force behind the annual ball hockey jamboree in O'Brien's honour.
sa国际传媒淲e didnsa国际传媒檛 deserve to lose him," she told Black Press Media. "The communities didnsa国际传媒檛 deserve to lose him. He was one of the good guys that truly wanted to make a difference. So Isa国际传媒檓 going to do what he set out to do, make positive change and create lasting relationships between youth and law enforcement.sa国际传媒�
In further commemoration, this September Osa国际传媒橞riensa国际传媒檚 name was added to the honour roll and memorial wall at RCMP depot division in Regina. And now the wall at his own detachment.
Next, Mehat explained that his name will also be added to the BC Law Enforcement Memorial in Victoria and to the Canadian Police and Peace Officerssa国际传媒� Memorial in Ottawa later this month.
"Constable Osa国际传媒橞rien will always be remembered as kind and compassionate, with an incredibly witty sense of humour. Constable Osa国际传媒橞rien was very much a family man, and a lover of sports," said Mehat.
Speaking to his character, the superintendent also cited that only a few months after becoming a Mountie in 2017, Osa国际传媒橞rien earned an Award of Valour. This distinction came after he placed himself at "substantial risk" when he entered a residence that was subject of an armed home invasion.
"Constable Osa国际传媒橞rien without hesitation entered the home to assist with the rescue of victims and to apprehend the suspects," explained his boss.
