Burnaby RCMP officer Constable Shaelyn Yang was laid to rest on November 2, after being fatally stabbed while trying to help an unhoused individual on October 18. Metro Vancouver Transit Police officers and civilian staff were in attendance for the ceremonial procession and funeral, along with thousands of police officers and other first responders from across Canada and beyond.
Five Canadian police officers have been killed in the line of duty within the last two months, but Cst. Yang’s death hit Transit Police particularly hard.
Members of the Transit Police Community Engagement Team (CET) work closely with vulnerable members of the community. They provide mental health support and outreach to unhoused individuals. They respond to reports of encampments along transit routes, attempting to connect the people they find there with resources that can help. In their work, CET officers would sometimes collaborate closely with Cst. Yang, who was a part of the Burnaby RCMP mental health outreach team. Her violent death has sent a shockwave of grief though the CET and all of Transit Police. Those who knew her remember her for her kindness and the pride she took in helping others.
“Constable Yang was known by some of our members who on occasion had the opportunity to meet and work with her. She has been described as a bright, enthusiastic and caring person. Her death is a tragic reminder of sudden and perhaps part of the unknown risks that exist within policing.” - Transit Police Chief David Jones
Transit Police would like to extend their sincere gratitude to Coast Mountain Bus Company for providing 26 coaches to transport attendees to and from the procession and funeral.
2 ноя 2022
