Vigil for fallen officer to highlight importance of community support

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – As British Columbians prepare to honour the Abbotsford Police constable killed last week, the brother of another fallen BC officer has highlighted the importance of community support in times of tragedy.

Constable John Davidson was shot and killed in Abbotsford last Monday while responding to a report of a stolen vehicle.

In the same week five years ago, RCMP Constable Adrian Oliver was killed in a traffic accident while on duty.

His twin brother Ben Oliver, who is also an RCMP officer, says he’s been thinking about John Davidson’s family this week.

With a candelight vigil to be held for Davidson on Monday evening, Ben Oliver says community support is important to the loved ones of a fallen officer.

“It’s hard to explain, it feels good I guess to have that support to know that people are thinking of you and offering their support for you and empathizing with you. It definitely helps in tragic circumstances.”

“To have that support, I know going through it myself, sometimes you don’t think about it very often but when you see the support… it’s hard to explain, it feels good to have that support.

The 5th annual Adrian Oliver Memorial Run was held in Burnaby on Sunday, to remember RCMP Constable Oliver.

It has raised more than $100,000 in the past five years for Honour House, a home-away-from-home for police officers, military veterans and their families in times of need.

Ben Oliver says the death of Davidson last week has highlighted the need for services like Honour House.

“We thought about him a lot this week, because it’s the same week that my brother passed away and so we empathize with his family. And I’ve heard that he has some family coming from England. And I know he lives in Abbotsford but Honour House is something they could definitely utilize. It’s definitely highlighted this week for sure.”

“It’s a home away from home during their time of need. So, for example during my brother’s, the week of his funeral, my family travelled from across Canada. It was a place for everyone to stay in the same place and kind of grieve together and share stories and laughs.”

The candlelight vigil to honour John Davidson will be held at the Mount Lehman Centre from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday. The public is welcomed.

A public service will also be held on November 19th to celebrate Davidson’s life. That ceremony will begin with a procession of police officers at 12 p.m. leading to the Abbotsford Centre, where the event will get underway at 1 p.m.

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