Thousands attend funeral for RCMP officer killed in crash

A full regimental funeral was held to honour an RCMP officer killed in a crash in Langford last week.

Cst. Sarah Beckett was on duty when her police cruiser was t-boned by a truck.

The 11-year member of the force left behind a husband and two sons aged five and two.

“Goodbye, Sarah,” said her former colleague Staff Sgt. Phil Lue in an emotional message at the packed Q Centre hockey arena in Colwood. “Your memory will always stay with us and you will be missed.”

Lue said Beckett incited gales of laughter with her seagull calls, which drew the attention of hoardes of birds and people amazed with her skill.

Her godfather Jack Hayden said Beckett was born in Calgary and aimed to become a paleontologist before deciding to follow in her grandfather’s steps and become an RCMP officer.

“She lived for her family,” Hayden said, adding that besides her love for her two young boys, Beckett prized her life with her husband Brad, whom she met and married in Las Vegas.

“You warned me this day may come when we first met each other,” her husband said in a message read by Hayden. “I would still take this journey 1,000 times with you.”

Hundreds of people lined the procession route as a hearse made its way to the service, which was attended by members of the public and about 2,000 law enforcement officers.

Many offered condolences via email, leaving thoughts and prayers for Beckett’s family.

The Victoria Division of the RCMP Veterans’ Association also established a trust account under the name: Sarah Beckett Family In Trust. The account has been set up at Coast Capital Savings Credit Union. Donations may be made to this account at any of their branches located across the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island.