A service marking the first anniversary of the death of a Victoria RCMP officer killed in a collision with an alleged drunk driver was held on Wednesday.
A married mother of two young boys, Const. Sarah Beckett with West Shore RCMP died on Apr. 5, 2016 when a pickup truck collided with her police cruiser in Langford. She had recently returned from maternity leave.
READ MORE: More than 100 first responders honour fallen Cst. Sarah Beckett
Beckett joined the RCMP in 2005 and spent 11 years in British Columbia, posted to the Port McNeill, Langford Municipal, Colwood and West Shore Detachments.
Wednesday’s noon-hour service in Langford was held outside the detachment, and the public was welcome to attend.
Kenneth Jacob Fenton, 28, who is scheduled to appear in court later this week, has been charged with impaired driving causing death, flight from police causing death, dangerous driving causing death, driving with a blood alcohol content in excess of 80 milligrams and refusing to provide a sample of his blood to police when he knew, or ought to have known, that driving his car caused an accident resulting in death.
A probe is also underway by the Independent Investigations Office, which has forwarded a report to Crown counsel for consideration of charges against an RCMP officer who was chasing a vehicle that hit Beckett’s cruiser.
~ with files from Canadian Press and Amy Judd