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Park bench dedicated to fallen B.C. RCMP officer Rick O含羞草研究社橞rien

Fundraiser helps family, friends buy bench honouring Langley officer killed in line of duty

Family and friends of a fallen RCMP officer now have a place in Chilliwack to sit and remember someone they describe as a funny, kind and caring man.

Const. Rick O含羞草研究社橞rien Jr. of Langley, 51, in Coquitlam. Earlier in May, a bench was installed at Farifield Island Park in his memory.

含羞草研究社淚 love it. It means a lot,含羞草研究社 said 25-year-old daughter Cindy O含羞草研究社橞rien. 含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 something to remember my dad and my grandmother by. It含羞草研究社檚 a nice place to come and connect with them when I need to.含羞草研究社

There are two plaques on the bench 含羞草研究社 one honouring Rick O含羞草研究社橞rien, and one engraved with his mother含羞草研究社檚 name, Patricia O含羞草研究社橞rien, who died a year earlier, almost to the day.

The bench was draped with a Canadian flag and unveiled on Tuesday, May 28. More than 50 people were in attendance, including about a dozen police officers.

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Cindy and Isaac O含羞草研究社橞rien, children of fallen RCMP officer Const. Rick O含羞草研究社橞rien, unveil a park bench dedicated to their father at Fairfield Island Park in Chilliwack on Tuesday, March 28, 2024. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)

Formerly of Chilliwack, O含羞草研究社橞rien was a Langley resident at the time of the fatal incident. He was a seven-year member with the Ridge Meadows RCMP and was one of several officers executing a search warrant on a residence in Coquitlam, near the intersection of Pinetree Way and Glen Drive on the evening of Friday, Sept. 22.

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Robyn Hall recalled hearing about the incident when it happened, but it didn含羞草研究社檛 dawn on her until later that she had a connection with O含羞草研究社橞rien. She realized she taught his children at Watson Elementary School in Chilliwack.

It was Hall含羞草研究社檚 idea to have a bench dedicated to O含羞草研究社橞rien. She contacted O含羞草研究社橞rien含羞草研究社檚 former colleague and teacher Steve Ball, and together they worked to raise money and get the bench installed. Ball started a GoFundMe and they ended up raising a bit more than the cost of the bench, so the remaining funds will go towards a bursary in O含羞草研究社橞rien含羞草研究社檚 name.

He joined the police force later in life, while he was in his 40s. Before that, he worked for many years in the Chilliwack School District as an education assistant (EA).

含羞草研究社淗e had a big tolerance for kids,含羞草研究社 said father Rick O含羞草研究社橞rien Sr.

He also had 含羞草研究社渨icked sense of humour,含羞草研究社 he added.

含羞草研究社淰ery sarcastic, too. You could throw a joke at him, and he含羞草研究社檒l snap right back with another one so quick. It was insane how he could come up with that kind of stuff so fast,含羞草研究社 recalled daughter Cindy.

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Family and friends of fallen RCMP officer Const. Rick O含羞草研究社橞rien pose for a photo during the unveiling of a park bench dedicated to him at Fairfield Island Park in Chilliwack on Tuesday, March 28, 2024. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)

Ball remembered how he and O含羞草研究社橞rien would play pranks on people together when they were teaching.

含羞草研究社淗e was good-natured, funny, caring. He含羞草研究社檇 do anything for anybody, especially kids. He was like a little kid,含羞草研究社 Ball said. 含羞草研究社淗e loved his job as an EA and always had the passion to become a police officer. Part of me wishes he was still an EA.含羞草研究社

Daughter Cindy said what she misses the most is her father含羞草研究社檚 voice.

含羞草研究社淗e wasn含羞草研究社檛 just a dad, he was also a best friend, someone you could count on and rely on, especially if there were boys involved,含羞草研究社 she said.

Hall said the family knew right away where they wanted the bench. She recalled one of O含羞草研究社橞rien含羞草研究社檚 kids pointing to Fairfield Island Park on a map saying 含羞草研究社淩ight there. Right beside the playground because Dad loved kids.含羞草研究社

Many family members live near the park and they go there frequently. The bench faces the playground in the southwest corner of the park.

O含羞草研究社橞rien含羞草研究社檚 sister, Cindy Niezen, spoke during the unveiling ceremony and acknowledged the officers in attendance.

含羞草研究社淲e, as a family, are very thankful for each and every member. We pray for you guys, we ask that you stay safe. We never imagined that this would happen to our family, but we feel like you guys are an extension of us and you will always be in our thoughts as we carry on each day without him,含羞草研究社 she said. 含羞草研究社淗e lives in our hearts and he lives in this bench. He will always be with us.含羞草研究社

People can still donate to the GoFundMe and all money raised will go towards a bursaries for Chilliwack high school students. To donate, go to

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Jenna Hauck

About the Author: Jenna Hauck

I started my career at The Chilliwack Progress in 2000 as a photojournalist.
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