Mounties out in force at regimental funeral for Const. Sarah Beckett

Hundreds of RCMP officers wearing red serge were joined by police from other forces and first responders for a solemn procession in advance of an RCMP regimental funeral for Const. Sarah Beckett on Tuesday.

• Sarah Beckett, RCMP constable, killed in crash near Victoria
• Candlelight vigil held for Const. Sarah Beckett

Officers came from all over for the event, which took place in the Victoria suburb of Colwood. 

Richmond RCMP Sgt. Rob Quilley was on the 7 a.m. PT ferry from Tsawwassen in Metro Vancouver. 

"I didn't know her personally, but she's part of the family," he said. "I just like to be out there and show the family that we're there for them. If they need anything, there's a lot of us out there."

Quilley said he's on duty today, but lots of the officers travelling to Beckett's funeral  did so on their own time.

"It's really, really nice to see these guys travel — some of them long, long distances and a lot of them on their own dime," he said.

Marilyn Day was first in line to enter the Q Centre in Colwood, where the funeral took place. She didn't know Beckett, but felt it was important to come to show her appreciation for the work police officers do.

"She was out there, in my opinion, keeping our community safe, and she lost her life in that endeavour," she said.

The sight of so many police supporting Beckett's family had a big impact on Day.

"Seeing them like that gives me an emotional... it's overwhelming."

Juanita Baird was Beckett's neighbour, and knew her well.

"She was a wonderful neighbour," Baird said. "It means a lot [to be here]. I was very fond of Sarah, and I'm very fond of her husband, and Sarah's mother, and the two boys, of course."

"Whenever you saw her, no matter how busy she was with her children, she always made time."

Baird's brother Doug Speakman met Beckett several times while she was playing with the kids in the cul-de-sac by their home.

"She was always sweet, I always thought she was a sweetheart, just the type of person she was," he said. "She was just so pleasant."