Regimental funeral for fallen officers won't be open to the public, city says

The regimental funeral for two police officers killed on the job last Friday will not be open to the public, the city announced at Monday night's council meeting.

The city said the funeral will be held for family, invited guests, dignitaries and people who work in public safety, including first responders and police.

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"We're expecting a great number of police officers from across the country, so it's going to be a large event," said  Steven Hicks, the deputy mayor. 

"They all work in the same field and deal with the same issues. They're all touched by this."

The regimental funeral for the two constables, Robb Costello and Sara Burns, will be held on Saturday at 1.p.m. at the Aitken University Centre.

Visitation for the police officers is open to the public and will be held Thursday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the ballroom of the Fredericton Convention Centre.  

The two Fredericton police officers were shot and killed while responding to a call at an apartment complex on Brookside Drive early Friday morning.

I think sometimes we take for granted what they do, but we certainly won't anymore.-Steven Hicks, deputy mayor of Fredericton

Hicks said that people who want to watch the funeral will be able to go to the Grant Harvey Centre to watch a live stream from there. 

More details were released Tuesday. 

Fredericton Police Force members in uniform will be joined in parade by several other police agencies, RCMP members, and first responders before the funeral.

Public welcome to watch parade

The parade will be begin at 12 p.m. at Fredericton High School and go along Priestman Street to Regent Street and along Montgomery Street and into the Aitken University Centre.

The city said members of police departments, law enforcement agencies and other first responders wishing to attend the funeral are asked to seek further information from their agencies.  

Those participating in the parade will gather at 10 a.m. at the Aitken University Centre to be transported to the muster point.  

A number of city streets will be closed during the parade including: 

• Montgomery Street will be closed to traffic between Regent Street and the Aitken Centre.
• Regent Street will be closed between Priestman Street and Montgomery Street.
• Northbound traffic on Regent Street will be forced to turn right onto Priestman Street (no thru or left-turn movements permitted northbound on Regent at Priestman).
• Priestman Street will be closed between York Street and Regent Street.

The city said people should avoid Regent Street and use York Street or Hanwell Road as alternatives. 

At their meeting, city councillors signed a book of condolence for the two officers and started the meeting with a moment of silence.

The books of condolence for the families will remain at City Hall for signing from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. The books will be taken to the Fredericton Convention Centre on Thursday night for the visitation.

Hicks sat in the mayor's chair on Monday night, as Fredericton Mayor Mike O'Brien attended the Hands and Hearts Across the City event.

Everyone is hurting

Hicks works as a probation officer and said he would've interacted with the two officers who were killed.

"We cross paths on a daily basis with them, and we know what they do day in and day out," said Hicks. "I think sometimes we take for granted what they do, but we certainly won't anymore."

The deputy mayor said the past few days have been terrible and it will take a long time for the city to heal.

"There's a lot of people suffering, so we just want to be there and offer support the best we can," Hicks said.

"It's going to be a long road, eventually we'll get through it."