TRURO, NS – Catherine Campbell lived in Dartmouth, but for the last six years, the 36-year-old Stellarton native served as a constable with the Truro Police Service. It is there that her death and it’s circumstances hit particularly hard.
On Tuesday, an RCMP officer from nearby Millbrook said she felt compelled to tie a yellow ribbon around a large maple tree in front of the Truro Police station.
“That was to signify hope – hope that a fellow officer would return home safely,” said Corporal De-Anne Sack of the Millbrook RCMP.
After news that Campbell’s body had been found, Corporal Sack returned to the tree to place flowers next to it. “We’re one large family,” said Sack, “and it’s very tragic and it’s unfortunate that this would happen to one of our own, and it’s heartbreaking.”
Truro Police Chief David MacNeil spoke to media this morning, and said Cst. Campbell was an excellent patrol officer and a role model in the community. “Catherine’s a person that wants to serve others and she made it her life work and her passion was helping people and this is just a senseless act and a senseless tragedy,” said MacNeil.
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There are 55 uniformed officers and civilian staff on the community’s police force. Grief councillors are being made available to help them through this difficult time.
WATCH: Garnier arrives for court appearance in connection with death of Catherine Campbell
Truro Mayor Bill Mills expressed sympathy to the Campbell family. He said Cst. Campbell was highly regarded in the community. “Her presence in the town – in the streets – was visible,” said Mills. “She was a very pro-active police officer. She was congenial – talked to a lot of young people – particularly young people and certainly as a tribute to her training and also her overall personality for what she stood for – policing in the community.”
A minister from Bible Hill was one of many people to place flowers at the base of the tree at the police station. “When a loss like this happens, I feel it’s a loss for the entire community because these people – these officers – they put themselves on the line for us daily, and only when a tragedy like this happens does it really come to light,” said Reverend Natasha DeVito of Cornerstone Assembly.
Carolyn MacNeil – a long-time Truro resident – did not know Campbell, but she, like many others in Truro, feel the loss. “The police are here to protect us and it’s a sin that they need protection now,” said MacNeil. “This has been going on across Canada and the United States and it’s time for it to stop.”
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