Mayor Henry Braun delivered the following statement at Monday’s council meeting.
The past two weeks have been an extremely tragic time for Const. John Davidson’s family, our police officers and our community.
As Chief Rich said in yesterday’s regimental funeral, darkness and evil visited our City two weeks ago.
But the light increasingly pushed back that darkness and evil from the moment our first responders arrived on scene. And the light replaced the darkness, culminating in yesterday’s celebration of life ceremony.
As Mayor and Council, we are very proud of how our community came together and surrounded the Davidson family as well as our APD family. It has been truly heartwarming to read and hear the many tributes that have poured in honouring Const. John Davidson.
There are so many people who deserve to be thanked at a time like this, and I wish that as Council we could reach out and thank each person directly. However, with the tremendous outpouring of support, I’m aware that just isn’t possible, and these brief words of thank you, on behalf of Council, will have to cover the many, many words of thanks that are truly deserved and truly felt.
First, I would like to thank our entire community and beyond for being beacons of light and throwing your collective arms around the Davidson family and the APD. I can’t begin to mention the many ways that support, love and encouragement have been extended – from opening up facilities and parking during the funeral to providing food, warm drinks, transportation and accommodation. The list just goes on.
And thank you to the thousands who lined both sides of McCallum and King roads to say thank you to a fallen hero as well as the approximately 7,500 police and first responders who made the effort to be here from many parts of the globe, including the US Secret Service, the FBI and the Northumbria Police.
And last, but certainly not least, thank you, Chief Rich, for leading the APD so well during these very difficult days – and we know there will be very tough days ahead. You have our full support.
At this time, I would also like to remember Deputy Chief Serr, his wife Kirsten and daughter Kiana, who are grieving the loss of their son and brother, Aiden, just a week ago.
Aiden’s memorial service will be held in Maple Ridge Baptist Church on Saturday, Nov. 25 at 1 p.m.