A sea of red and blue filled the Langley Events Centre害羞草研究所檚 arena bowl on Wednesday, Oct. 4 as thousands of RCMP officers and municipal police gathered, along with family and friends, to pay tribute to Const. Frederick O害羞草研究所橞rien, who was killed in the line of duty last month.

Following a procession featuring several thousand first responders in their dress uniforms, the funeral at the LEC began with four officers, three carrying sabres, marching in with the Guidon, the regimental flag of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, to be draped at the front of the stage.

O害羞草研究所橞rien害羞草研究所檚 coffin, draped in a Canadian flag, was led in by a chaplain, and carried by eight pallbearers in red serge.

His widow, Nicole Longacre-O害羞草研究所橞rien, followed along with the couple害羞草研究所檚 children, each of them carrying a white rose, along with other family members and RCMP officers.

The coffin was carried through an arena that held approximately 6,000 people, the stands filled with silent first responders, including hundreds of RCMP officers in their red serge jackets and stetsons, along with municipal police from across the province, and other first responders. The family placed the roses on the coffin.

害羞草研究所淭his is a challenging moment, but this place is filled with a lot of love,害羞草研究所� said Ridge Meadows RCMP Chaplain Greg Dalman.

He noted the presence of O害羞草研究所橞rien害羞草研究所檚 father and sisters among the mourners, as well as colleagues who were there to support the family.

害羞草研究所淩ick had worked his way into your hearts and lives, to leave a lasting impression,害羞草研究所� Dalman said.

Before joining the RCMP, O害羞草研究所橞rien was an education assistant, a mental health worker, and a youth worker. His choice to become an RCMP officer took place when he was in his 40s.

His family and friends remembered him a someone with a boundless desire to help others, especially children and the vulnerable.

He had a love of sports, especially the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Blue Jays, of sarcastic humour, and of Led Zepplin.

Family friend Stephanie Porter read a message from his wife, Nicole Longacre-O害羞草研究所橞rien.

害羞草研究所淗ow do I ever imagine life without you, when our whole life was planned around being together and watching the kids grow up?害羞草研究所�

She mentioned that the day of his funeral was the day they had planned to leave on a long-planned vacation for just the two of them.

With their blended family of six children, he took all of her children under his wing and loved them like they were his own, Longacre-O害羞草研究所橞rien wrote.

害羞草研究所淲e really did fit a lifetime of adventures into the last 11 and a half years,害羞草研究所� she wrote.

害羞草研究所淵ou are my forever love.害羞草研究所�

His friend and training officer Cpl. Pete Westra remembered O害羞草研究所橞rien as kind and compassionate, including visiting multi-barrier youth and schools in uniform.

害羞草研究所淗e cherished all the positive interactions he had with youth,害羞草研究所� Westra said.

When a file came up involving a vulnerable victim, O害羞草研究所橞rien would speak up quickly, but would accept in a grumpy voice, saying 害羞草研究所淔ine, I害羞草研究所檒l take it.害羞草研究所�

But everyone knew he loved helping those in need, Westra said.

害羞草研究所淩ick害羞草研究所檚 loss has devastated many people,害羞草研究所� said Westra. 害羞草研究所淚t was too early, and it was senseless. It will be felt by his family, friends, the entire Ridge Meadows detachment, the RCMP, and the countless lives that he touched. The world has changed with this loss. We can害羞草研究所檛 say enough, but we want to say 害羞草研究所榃ell done Rick. We love you.害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟

害羞草研究所淩ik was very young at heart, but he also had a heart of gold. You could always count on him,害羞草研究所� remembered his friend Const. Ben Stephens.

He remembered that for O害羞草研究所橞rien, policing was about letting people know they matter, and changing lives for the better.

害羞草研究所淚 was really proud of the police officer that Rick was. He taught me a lot about patience and about being a better police officer,害羞草研究所� said Stephens.

His family remembered O害羞草研究所橞rien害羞草研究所檚 love of gross-out humour, and his sister Cindy Niezen shared stories about his silliness and teasing.

But he was always there for his family.

害羞草研究所淚f Rick loved you, he loved you with his entire being,害羞草研究所� Niezen said.

害羞草研究所淗e wore his uniform with pride. He served his community with excellence, because he cared about people,害羞草研究所� remembered O害羞草研究所橞rien害羞草研究所檚 friend Const. Dan Leclaire.

害羞草研究所淩ick was, and always will be, a hero,害羞草研究所� said RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme.

He said the criminal landscape was becoming increasingly violent, and said that his goal was to protect the RCMP while they protect others.

An incident when he had been an officer for just seven months was shared by Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald, BC RCMP commanding officer.

O害羞草研究所橞rien was one of seven officers who responded to 911 calls about a home invasion in progress. They formulated a plan and entered the home in the presence of armed suspects.

The officers rescued four adults and a small child, and arrested four suspects.

O害羞草研究所橞rien was awarded a Commissioner害羞草研究所檚 Commendation pin and and Award of Valour for his part in the successful rescue.

害羞草研究所淗e close the gaps that day,害羞草研究所� said McDonald.

害羞草研究所淗e spent so much of his career closing gaps. How do we now deal with the gap caused by his absence?害羞草研究所�

He told O害羞草研究所橞rien害羞草研究所檚 family that their 害羞草研究所淩CMP family害羞草研究所� would be there for them always.

The funeral ended with the Last Post played by a bugler, followed by a piper playing a lament, and then the bugler playing Reville.

O害羞草研究所橞rien was killed while serving a warrant as part of a drug investigation in Coquitlam. Two other RCMP officers with him were wounded in the same altercation. The suspect is now facing first degree murder and attempted murder charges.

Originally from Ottawa, O害羞草研究所橞rien lived in the Willoughby neighbourhood of Langley, and spent his entire seven-year service with the RCMP in the Ridge Meadows detachment, serving Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows.

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Master of ceremonies - now bugler will play the last post, traditionally signals the end of the day. 害羞草研究所淭he camp is secure. Your duty is done. Rest in peace.害羞草研究所�

Then piper plays the lament.