Codiac RCMP to receive Governor General's commendation

Codiac Regional RCMP members, first responders and the citizens of Moncton will receive the Governor General's Commendation for Outstanding Service today in connection with their actions during the Moncton shootings in June.

"This commendation is being presented in recognition of their professionalism, collaboration and solidarity during the tragic events of June 4, 2014, when three  RCMP constables — Dave Ross, Fabrice Georges Gevaudan and Douglas James Larche — were killed in the line of duty," a statement from the office of Governor General David Johnston states.

Constables Éric Stéphane J. Dubois and Marie Darlene Goguen were also wounded.

"This type of commendation honours the exceptional contributions made by individuals or groups to their community," the statement said.

Lt.-Gov. Graydon Nicholas will make the presentation on behalf of Johnston in the courtyard near City Hall at 1:30 p.m.

Johnston had to cancel his visit to New Brunswick due to illness.

Justin Christien Bourque, 24, is charged with three counts of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder in connection with the June 4 shootings.

He has been deemed fit to stand trial and has elected to be tried by a judge and jury.

Bourque has waived his right to a preliminary inquiry and is scheduled to appear in the Court of Queen's Bench on Aug. 8, when the case will be transferred from provincial court to the higher court.

Bourque was arrested just after midnight on June 6, following a two-day manhunt that involved hundreds of police officers from across the country and caused a lockdown in parts of the city.

Police found him when they responded to a complaint of someone being in a backyard.

The RCMP has ordered an internal investigation into the shootings.

New leadership

Supt. Paul Beauchesne has also been named the new officer in charge of the Codiac Regional RCMP.

"The greater Moncton area has gone through a terrible tragedy but the support I have seen from the people of Dieppe, Moncton and Riverview makes it clear these are communities that support their police and want to work with us to keep them safe," Beauchesne said in a statement on Wednesday.

He replaces Supt. Marlene Snowman, who is being promoted to chief superintendent and will be the officer in charge of criminal operations in Nova Scotia.

Beauchesne, who is a 24-year veteran of the RCMP, serving most recently as the officer in charge of the Montreal drug section and District East (Quebec), is expected to begin his new role within the next several weeks.

He was selected by Codiac Regional Policing Authority chair Nick LeBlanc, Moncton Mayor George LeBlanc, Dieppe Mayor Yvon Lapierre, Riverview Mayor Ann Seamans and Assistant Commissioner Roger Brown, the commanding officer of the RCMP in New Brunswick.

Beauchesne has served in New Brunswick before. He was posted to general duties and traffic services in Grand Falls when he joined the RCMP in 1990, then moved to the Bathurst drug section in 1998, where he remained until 2002 when he moved to Quebec.