British Columbia’s Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has officially identified the officer who tragically lost his life while executing a search warrant in Coquitlam on Friday morning. The fallen officer has been identified as Constable Rick O’Brien.
The unfortunate incident unfolded as Constable O’Brien and his colleagues from the Ridge Meadows RCMP detachment were carrying out the warrant at a residence on Glen Drive. During the operation, they became involved in an altercation with a man, which led to multiple officers being injured and the suspect being shot, according to an earlier statement released by the RCMP.
Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald, the commanding officer of the B.C. RCMP, announced Constable O’Brien’s name during a news conference held later in the afternoon. His voice carried the weight of the somber occasion as he expressed the profound sorrow felt by the RCMP family.
“This is an extremely tragic and difficult day,” McDonald said, adding that it’s an understatement to say that the day has been challenging. “Our RCMP family is, once again, gutted.”
McDonald noted that the incident occurred just days before the B.C. law enforcement memorial in Victoria and less than a year after the tragic killing of Constable Shaelyn Yang in Burnaby. “We’re still healing from that tragic loss,” McDonald stated. “And yet, here we are again. We must do everything necessary to support our members, their families, and our community.”
The commissioner shared that he had visited with Constable O’Brien’s family before addressing the media and extended his condolences along with those of the RCMP.
Constable Rick O’Brien, born in Ottawa, had dedicated seven years to his service as an RCMP officer, all of them at the Ridge Meadows detachment. He was 51 years old at the time of his passing.
Superintendent Wendy Mehat, the officer in charge of the detachment, described Constable O’Brien’s death as “the most difficult moment” in her RCMP career. She emphasized that while she couldn’t provide details of the incident, the loss of Rick O’Brien would be deeply felt by his family, colleagues, and the communities of Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows, Coquitlam, and the entire nation.
“He was truly exceptional – a hard-worker and a good human being. His death is senseless and heart-breaking,” Mehat lamented.
B.C. Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth expressed shock and sadness in response to Constable O’Brien’s death. In a statement, Farnworth conveyed his support for Constable O’Brien’s colleagues, family, and loved ones.
“We stand with the colleagues, families, and loved ones of Const. Rick O’Brien,” Farnworth stated. “Beneath the uniform, an officer is a person with a family, friends, and dreams – they believe in their communities and sacrifice of themselves to keep us all safe.”
Premier David Eby and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also shared their condolences through social media posts.
An online biography of Constable O’Brien posted on the website of the Gratitude and Appreciation Summit provided insights into his service. It mentioned his assignment to the Ridge Meadows RCMP Uniformed Community Response Unit and recounted his heroic actions during his first year of service. During that time, Constable O’Brien successfully disrupted a violent home invasion alongside six other RCMP members. For his outstanding efforts leading to the arrest of four armed suspects, he received a commissioner’s commendation pin and a medal of valor.
Before joining the RCMP, Constable O’Brien had worked as an education assistant, mental health worker, and youth worker, demonstrating his commitment to public service.
The biography also highlighted Constable O’Brien’s deep family bonds, describing him as “a very giving and loving brother, son, father, and husband” who valued family above all else. He and his wife, Nicole, shared the joy of raising six children, three from each side, creating a dynamic and lively household.