Catherine Campbell march in Truro draws hundreds

Hundreds of people marched in Truro Saturday night to remember Catherine Campbell, the Truro police officer murdered this week in Halifax.

Organizer Walter Nelson started to think about a way to honour Campbell as soon as he heard she died.

"I read on Facebook she had died and it just really affected me and I thought I could do something," he said.

The march came together when Nelson recruited friends and they were joined by dozens of volunteers like Dale Layton, wanting to lend their support.

"Police are the people who serve our community and protect us as individuals in the town and to pay respects like this to a fallen officer is huge," he said.

Participants met at Victoria Square and marched down Prince Street to the police station where Campbell served as an officer for six years.

A number of uniformed police officers were in attendance, as well as a number of fire trucks from both the Truro area and Pictou County. Campbell also served as a volunteer firefighter.

During the day on Saturday, a steady stream of people placed flowers outside the Truro police department and signed a book of condolences.

Judy Joy had praise for the work of the force.

"She was a great officer I have to say. My heart goes out to the officers, they do a great fine job here in Truro," she said.

Campbell's body was found in a wooded area under the MacDonald bridge shortly after midnight on Wednesday. Halifax police have charged a man with second degree murder.

Halifax police spokeswoman Theresa Rath said they are continuing to get tips.

"We have had a lot of information come in but certainly if there was someone out there who saw something suspicious we would ask them to come forward," she said.

Nelson said he hoped the march can be a help to everyone.

"This rally is about healing for the community and just helping people cope, giving them an outlet for their grief and celebrating her life," he said.

Campbell's funeral will be on Monday in her home town of Stellarton.