Abbotsford – Some 12,000 first responders, (Police, Fire, and Ambulance) from across the Province as well as Seattle and England/Scotland were dressed in full uniform to pay their final respects at the Abbotsford Centre to Cst. John Davidson.
Prior to joining the Abbotsford Force, Davidson was a member of the Northumbria Police Department in England.
Davidson was the APD Officer killed in the line of duty after responding to a call of a stolen vehicle which turned into a fatal shooting, November 6. One man is in custody and charged with First Degree murder. That is an automatic charge when an officer is killed in the line of duty.
In his words of praise during the ceremony, Abby Police Chief Bob Rich told all first responders to “take a knee” and not just “suck it up” in hiding their feelings when any officer let alone Davidson, falls in the line of duty. The PTSD numbers for first responders is climbing and Rich emotionally pleased with everyone in the Abbotsford Centre, to get help and not suffer alone.
Thank you to Don and Brenda Armstrong from the Chilliwack Salvation Army for their photos as they provided coffee to marchers heading into Abbotsford Centre.
