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鈥橞rien Jr. of Langley, 51, in Coquitlam. Earlier in May, a bench was installed at Farifield Island Park in his memory.
鈥淚 love it. It means a lot,鈥� said 25-year-old daughter Cindy O鈥橞rien. 鈥淚t鈥檚 something to remember my dad and my grandmother by. It鈥檚 a nice place to come and connect with them when I need to.鈥�
There are two plaques on the bench 鈥� one honouring Rick O鈥橞rien, and one engraved with his mother鈥檚 name, Patricia O鈥橞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.
Formerly of Chilliwack, O鈥橞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鈥檛 dawn on her until later that she had a connection with O鈥橞rien. She realized she taught his children at Watson Elementary School in Chilliwack.
It was Hall鈥檚 idea to have a bench dedicated to O鈥橞rien. She contacted O鈥橞rien鈥檚 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鈥橞rien鈥檚 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).
鈥淗e had a big tolerance for kids,鈥� said father Rick O鈥橞rien Sr.
He also had 鈥渨icked sense of humour,鈥� he added.
鈥淰ery sarcastic, too. You could throw a joke at him, and he鈥檒l snap right back with another one so quick. It was insane how he could come up with that kind of stuff so fast,鈥� recalled daughter Cindy.
Ball remembered how he and O鈥橞rien would play pranks on people together when they were teaching.
鈥淗e was good-natured, funny, caring. He鈥檇 do anything for anybody, especially kids. He was like a little kid,鈥� Ball said. 鈥淗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.鈥�
Daughter Cindy said what she misses the most is her father鈥檚 voice.
鈥淗e wasn鈥檛 just a dad, he was also a best friend, someone you could count on and rely on, especially if there were boys involved,鈥� she said.
Hall said the family knew right away where they wanted the bench. She recalled one of O鈥橞rien鈥檚 kids pointing to Fairfield Island Park on a map saying 鈥淩ight there. Right beside the playground because Dad loved kids.鈥�
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鈥橞rien鈥檚 sister, Cindy Niezen, spoke during the unveiling ceremony and acknowledged the officers in attendance.
鈥淲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,鈥� she said. 鈥淗e lives in our hearts and he lives in this bench. He will always be with us.鈥�
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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