Fredericton begins to move forward
‘Monday marks a day to start the healing’
FREDERIC TON• The start of a new week marks a time for Fredericton to begin healing as a community, the city’s police chief said Sunday, as officers cleaned up a makeshift memorial dedicated to two constables gunned down earlier this month.
Just over a week after officers Robb Costello and Sara Burns, along with civilians Bobbie Lee Wright and Donnie Robichaud, were shot dead outside an apartment complex, Leanne Fitch issued a lengthy statement on the force’s website.
“I know that none of us will ever forget that day, but in memory of the four people who lost their lives, it’s time for us to heal, so that we can continue to build on their legacy,” she wrote. “There will still be difficult moments as we move forward, but we know that we must.”
Since the shooting on Aug. 10, mourners flocked to the police station to pay their respects, leaving cards, flowers, signs and stuffed animals to pay tribute to the small police force.
“The constant line of people at our police station to drop off gifts and sign support messages has been overwhelming,” Fitch wrote in her statement.
“Those gestures have meant so much to all of our employees. You have looked after us well and I can’t begin to thank you enough.”
On Sunday morning, officers collected the items to distribute among staff and the families of the fallen officers.
“Monday marks a new day, a day to start the healing for all of us together as a community,” she wrote.
The move to collect the cards and flowers came a day after the regimental funeral for Costello and Burns, which Fitch said was attended by thousands of police officers and first responders from across the continent.