Heroes for a nation: 2 Fredericton police officers honoured at regimental funeral

Steven Burns and his three sons wore yellow ties and placed four yellow roses onto one of the caskets belonging to Fredericton police ConstablesRobbCostello and Sara Burns itwas his wife's favourite colour and one of the manyquirks he mentioned in his final goodbye to her.

"Sara hasalwaysbeen my hero and my angel," he said during his eulogy at the regimental funeral Saturday in the New Brunswick capital."But now she is ahero and an angel fora community, a province and a nation."

• Community members line up to pay respects to fallen Fredericton officers
• 'We need to do it right': Thousands expected at funeral for fallen Fredericton officers
• Healing together: How Fredericton copes in aftermath of shootings

Just over a week after they were killed in the line of duty along with two civilians, Burns and Costello were honoured before more than 1,000 family members, friends, first responders and dignitaries from across Canada, in a service filled with personal stories oflove and dedication to their jobs. The 90-minute service,in theAitkenUniversity Centre arena,was also live streamed at two public locationstheGrant Harvey Centre at 600 Knowledge Park Dr. and Hope City Church, formerly known as Sunset Church following an hour-long street procession.

Fallen Fredericton police officers honoured at regimental funeral

6 years ago

Duration 2:41

Watch a 2.5-minute recap of the funeral for Constables Robb Costello and Sara Burns, killed on Aug. 10 after responding to reports of gunfire.

Costello, 45, and Burns, 43, were killed while responding to a report of gunfire at an apartment complex at 237 Brookside Dr. on the city's north side the morning of Aug. 10.DonnieRobichaud, 42, and his girlfriend, Bobbie Lee Wright, 32, also died.

The two officers were the first on the scene and gunned down as they approachedRobichaudand Wright.

Costello wasa 20-year veteran and father of four.Burns wasa married mother of three who became a constable twoyears agoafter serving as an auxiliary officer for two years.

A love for the job

With members of the Fredericton Police Force,RCMPand agencies fromacross the country in attendance,Burns's husband gave a moving and personal tribute to his wife, callinghimself "the husbandof the most beautiful and caring woman Ihave ever met."

• On mobile? Follow our live coverage here.

He spoke of her love for dragonflies, technology, travelling, online shopping, and passion in working as a police officer and taking care of others.

"I can remember all too often driving in a car with her just the two of us and at mid-sentence she would just belt out, 'I love my job,'" he said.

Burns said the fallen police officer was his best friend and spent the past 19 years also being "the best wife, mother, business partner, chauffeur, nurse and hockey mom" of their three sons: Duncan, Malcolm and Anderson.

He also encouraged officers with the Fredericton Police Force to rely on one another during this time of tragedy andavoid blaming themselves for what happened.

"I want you to know how much youall meant to her," he said. "I want each of you to know she is at peace and you did everything you could to protect her."

Lived and died a hero

Greg Morris, a family friend of the Costello family, described the veteran officeras a kind, caring and compassionate friend to those who knew him.

Away from work, Costellowas a big fan of the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team in Indianaand"proudly" exchanged pins with the Notre Dame police.

"You should know that the Fredericton Police Department is well represented at Robb's favourite Notre Dame University," Morrissaid.

Costello also loved basketball, which heplayed at Sussex High School, the University of New Brunswick's Saint John campus and the New Brunswick Community College.

"His coach in high school mentioned that Costellowas not the most skilled player, nor the fastest, or even the most athletic," Morrissaid.

"But he was the most selfless. There was nothing he was not going to do for the team."

Morris said Costellodied doing the job he loved most and helping those around him, and served his community until that "tragic Friday morning."

"Robb Costello didn't become a hero as he died. He became a hero as he lived."

Morris also spoke about Costello'slove forhis partner, Jackie McLean, his mother Dolores Costello-Francis, histwo children, Kassie and Kaitlyn Costello, and two stepchildren, Katie and Zach Steeves.

"We will never forget you. You have finished your shift. You are off duty. Take a deep breath you are home now," Morris saidabout his friend of 20 years.

Throughout the service, the speakers also acknowledged the two civilians killed last week Robichaud and his girlfriend, Wright and their grieving families and friends.

I don't think Sara knew how proud I was of her and I'm heartsick to be too late in saying so.-Leanne Fitch, Fredericton police chief

Fredericton police Chief Leanne Fitch held back tears as she spoke about Costello, who joined the force in 1998 immediately after graduating from the Atlantic Police Academy.

That year, Fitch was Costello's primary field trainerandworked with him during his first stint on the job. From there, he took on several roles in the police force and New BrunswickRCMP.

Fitch always made a point of letting him know he was a good man.

"Robbwasn't even given the chance to use the full extent of his character and his skills last Friday," she said, referring to the day of the shooting.

"And yet there isn't a doubt in my mind that he went into that situation willingly and bravely to his last call, which was the first call of his day."

2 officers gaveselflessly as 'heroes'

Fitch went on to speak of Burns and her determination to become a police officer, saying shewas "inspirational" and considered "one of the finest of new officers with a bright future to match her beautiful, bright personality, enthusiasm and joy for life."

Fitch said Burns had a special ability to calm people down and tode-escalatea crisis, but like Costello,didn't get a chance to use those skillsbefore being ambushed on her final call on her night shift.

"I always felt that our police department and our city were better because of her and thatthingswould be OK in the years ahead," Fitchsaid.

'They will live forever in your hearts and ours'

6 years ago

Duration 1:07

Fredericton police officers honoured at regimental funeral

"I don't think Sara knew how proud I was of her and I'm heartsick to be too late in saying so."

Fitch said both Costello and Burns died "a hero's death."

She also spoke of how proud she was of the police officers' responseto the shooting, noting: "Only you know how manylives you saved that day."

Fitch also spent the past week with members of her force andthe families of the two fallen officers.

"Your Sara and yourRobbwere our Sara and ourRobbtoo, and they will live forever in your heartsand ours," she said. "They gave their life selflessly as heroes."

Served and protected

Dignitaries who attended thefuneral also included:

• New BrunswickLt.-Gov.Jocelyne Roy-Vienneau.
• Dominic LeBlanc, federal minister of intergovernmental affairs.
• New Brunswick Premier Brian Gallant.
• Fredericton Mayor Mike O'Brien and city councillors.
• RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki.
• Assistant Commissioner Larry Tremblay, commanding officer RCMP New Brunswick.

Roy-Vienneau said peopleacross the country will remember Costello and Burns every time they hear the word "hero."

She met Burns when she joined the police force in 2016, and remembersCostello attendingevery medal ceremony to support friends and colleagues with a big smile.

"They served, they protected, they helped others. They improved lives, they made this community better," Roy-Vienneausaid.

Community reaches out

Priority for attending the funeral was given to the families of the fallen officers, Fredericton police and other law enforcement personnel.

Although the funeral wasn't open to the public, itdidn't stop people from liningthe rain-swept streets of Fredericton along the route of thefuneral procession of about 1,400 first responders. The procession started at noon AT at Fredericton High School, and moved alongPriestmanStreet to Regent Street, down toMontgomery Street and across to the University of New Brunswick campus.

Grimsby, a 10-year-old standardbred racehorse partly owned by Burns, followedbehind the hearses.

The horse wasled byGrimsby'sco-owner, StefanDecourcey, a constable with the Fredericton police.

First responders come to Fredericton

Annie Gregoire, acting superintendent for the Ottawa Paramedic Service, said thefuneral is a stark reminder of the dangersfirst responders can faceon the job.

But she said the day will be about being there for one anotheras first responders, and ensuring people are not alone especially the familiesof the fallen officers.

"This tragedy has united a lot of us in the first responder communityall across the nation and actuallyall across the continent as well," Gregoire said. "The most important thing in times like these is to get together to support each other and pay our respects for the family and the people who are grieving."

This is the second time in fouryears that first responders have gathered in New Brunswick to pay tribute to fallen officers.

Three Mounties were killed and two others badly injured in Moncton in June 2014after a gunman opened fire in the city about 180 kilometres east of Fredericton. That funeral also drew thousands of RCMP officers and police officials from across Canada.

Residents gatheroutside

Among those enduring Saturday's heavy rain and cold weather to line the funeral procession route to show their support for Costello and Burns wasRickLingley, who was holding back tears as he stood beside his wife, Ann.

His son has served as a police officer withFredericton police.

"Every day they put their life on the line for us," Lingley said before the procession started.

He said he's proud of the City of Fredericton forrallying behind the police force during such a difficult time.

It's been a very long week and it's just as fresh as it was a week ago.-SandyAdshade, general manager at Mary Browns

"When this happened, it really hit home," said the Fredericton resident.

"These are really good people, everybody that serves. They're human beings."

Sandy Adshade, general manager at Mary Brown's, a restaurant in a strip mall along the parade route on Regent Street,said she and her staff planned to watch from the sidewalk as the regimental parade passes.

Adshade said she knows people in the community who were personally affected by last week's shooting.

"It's been a tragedy," she said. "It's been a very hard week it's not going away any time soon."

• Police release name of man facing 4 counts of 1st-degree murder in Fredericton shooting
• 'We were always going to be together,' spouse of slain police officer says
• Families of slain officers remember their passion for the job

The accused in last week'sshooting, Matthew Vincent Raymond, 48, has beencharged with four counts of first-degree murder and is scheduled to appear in court on Aug. 27.

With files from Myfanwy Davies