Tuesday marks five years since three RCMP officers were shot and killed in the line of duty in Moncton.
Constables Doug Larche, Dave Ross and Fabrice Gevaudan died while responding to a call about an armed man. Constables Eric Dubois and Darlene Goguen were also shot — but they survived.
Larry Tremblay, commanding officer of the New Brunswick RCMP, said they will never forget the fear and loss of June 4, 2014.
But Tremblay said they will also never forget the way the community came together to support them and each other.
“You went out of your way to show us that our loss was also yours, and that you knew and were grateful for how our police officers put public safety above their own,” said Tremblay.
Remembering our heroes and a community united https://t.co/Ign6ZQZU5s #Moncton pic.twitter.com/7s7kGTP4go
— RCMP New Brunswick (@RCMPNB) June 3, 2019
Tremblay said the gratitude they saw in the days after the shootings helped get their officers through that dark time.
“New Brunswickers came up to our uniformed and non-uniformed employees on the street, in stores and at the local coffee shops to thank them, not just for the work done during this terrible time, but for the work they do each and every day,” he said. “These simple words meant a lot.”
Five years later, Tremblay said their communities are what bring purpose to their work, giving them the strength to face the most difficult of challenges and the hardest of times.
“Let us all continue to honour the legacy of Doug, Dave and Fabrice by doing our part in looking out for each other and helping keep our community safe,” he said.