Hot News: 'An unbearable sadness' as slain Moncton Mounties honoured

The caskets of Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Constables Dave Joseph Ross (L) from Victoriaville, Quebec, Douglas James Larche (C) from Saint John, New Brunswick, and Fabrice Georges Gevaudan of Boulogne-Billancourt, France, (R) are draped in Canadian flags for a public viewing of the Fallen Three at Wesleyan Celebration Center in Moncton, New Brunswick June 9, 2014. A 24-year-old man was charged with murder on Friday in the slayings of three Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers during a shooting spree in the eastern Canadian city of Moncton. REUTERS/Christinne Muschi

A Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officer (R ) wipes tears away standing beside the casket of Cst. Fabrice Georges Gevaudan during a public visitation of the Fallen Three at Wesleyan Celebration Center in Moncton, New Brunswick June 9, 2014. A 24-year-old man was charged with murder on Friday in the slayings of three Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers during a shooting spree in the eastern Canadian city of Moncton. REUTERS/Christinne Muschi

A dog collar and boots are placed on the casket of Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officer Dave Joseph Ross during a public visitation of the Fallen Three at Wesleyan Celebration Center in Moncton, New Brunswick June 9, 2014. A 24-year-old man was charged with murder on Friday in the slayings of three Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers during a shooting spree in the eastern Canadian city of Moncton. REUTERS/Christinne Muschi

The caskets of Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Constables Dave Joseph Ross (L) from Victoriaville, Quebec, Douglas James Larche (C) from Saint John, New Brunswick,and Fabrice Georges Gevaudan of Boulogne-Billancourt, France, are draped in Canadian flags for a public viewing of the Fallen Three at Wesleyan Celebration Center in Moncton, New Brunswick June 9, 2014. A 24-year-old man was charged with murder on Friday in the slayings of three Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers during a shooting spree in the eastern Canadian city of Moncton. REUTERS/Christinne Muschi

People look at the memorial on the steps of Royal Canadian Mounted Police Headquarters (RCMP) headquarters in Moncton, New Brunswick, June 9, 2014. A 24-year-old man was charged with murder on Friday in the slayings of three Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers during a shooting spree in the eastern Canadian city of Moncton. REUTERS/Mark Blinch

The caskets of Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Constables Dave Joseph Ross (L) from Victoriaville, Quebec, Douglas James Larche (C) from Saint John, New Brunswick,and Fabrice Georges Gevaudan of Boulogne-Billancourt, France, are draped in Canadian flags for a public viewing of the Fallen Three at Wesleyan Celebration Center in Moncton, New Brunswick June 9, 2014. A 24-year-old man was charged with murder on Friday in the slayings of three Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers during a shooting spree in the eastern Canadian city of Moncton. REUTERS/Christinne Muschi

A woman shakes hands with an Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officer in front of the casket of Cst. Dave Joseph Ross during a public visitation of the Fallen Three at Wesleyan Celebration Center in Moncton, New Brunswick June 9, 2014. A 24-year-old man was charged with murder on Friday in the slayings of three Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers during a shooting spree in the eastern Canadian city of Moncton. REUTERS/Christinne Muschi

A Montreal Canadien's cap and running shoes as well as a Commendation for Outstanding service sits on top of the casket of Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officer Cst. Douglas James Larche during a public visitation of the Fallen Three at Wesleyan Celebration Center in Moncton, New Brunswick June 9, 2014. A 24-year-old man was charged with murder on Friday in the slayings of three Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers during a shooting spree in the eastern Canadian city of Moncton. REUTERS/Christinne Muschi

A girl looks at a memorial on the steps of Royal Canadian Mounted Police Headquarters (RCMP) headquarters in Moncton, New Brunswick, June 9, 2014. A 24-year-old man was charged with murder on Friday in the slayings of three Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers during a shooting spree in the eastern Canadian city of Moncton. REUTERS/Mark Blinch

Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officers carry a casket of one of the slain officers to the public viewing at Wesleyan Celebration Center in Moncton, New Brunswick June 9, 2014. A 24-year-old man was charged with murder on Friday in the slayings of the three Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers, Constables Fabrice Georges Gevaudan, 45; David Joseph Ross, 32, and Douglas James Larche, 40, during a shooting spree in the eastern Canadian city of Moncton. REUTERS/Christinne Muschi

A girl looks at a memorial on the steps of Royal Canadian Mounted Police Headquarters (RCMP) headquarters in Moncton, New Brunswick, June 9, 2014. A 24-year-old man was charged with murder on Friday in the slayings of three Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers during a shooting spree in the eastern Canadian city of Moncton. REUTERS/Mark Blinch

A Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officer is hugged in front of the casket of one of the Fallen Three during a public visitation at Wesleyan Celebration Center in Moncton, New Brunswick June 9, 2014. A 24-year-old man was charged with murder on Friday in the slayings of three Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers during a shooting spree in the eastern Canadian city of Moncton. REUTERS/Christinne Muschi

A Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officer salutes as a casket is carried past a procession of three hearses for the public viewing at Wesleyan Celebration Center in Moncton, New Brunswick June 9, 2014. A 24-year-old man was charged with murder on Friday in the slayings of three Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers during a shooting spree in the eastern Canadian city of Moncton. Justin Bourque, dressed in blue prison garb and under heavy guard, stood motionless in Moncton Provincial Court as a judge read out the charges, local media reported. REUTERS/Christinne Muschi

Members of the public file past the casket of Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officer Cst. Douglas James Larche during a public visitation of the Fallen Three at Wesleyan Celebration Center in Moncton, New Brunswick June 9, 2014. A 24-year-old man was charged with murder on Friday in the slayings of three Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers during a shooting spree in the eastern Canadian city of Moncton. REUTERS/Christinne Muschi (CANADA - Tags: CRIME LAW)

A Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officer salutes as a casket is carried past for public viewing at Wesleyan Celebration Center in Moncton, New Brunswick June 9, 2014.A 24-year-old man was charged with murder on Friday in the slayings of the three Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers, Constables Fabrice Georges Gevaudan, 45; David Joseph Ross, 32, and Douglas James Larche, 40, during a shooting spree in the eastern Canadian city of Moncton. REUTERS/Christinne Muschi

Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officers carry a casket of one of the slain officers to the public viewing at Wesleyan Celebration Center in Moncton, New Brunswick June 9, 2014. A 24-year-old man was charged with murder on Friday in the slayings of the three Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers, Constables Fabrice Georges Gevaudan, 45; David Joseph Ross, 32, and Douglas James Larche, 40, during a shooting spree in the eastern Canadian city of Moncton. REUTERS/Christinne Muschi

Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers gather to attend the funeral for three fellow officers who were killed last week in Moncton, New Brunswick, June 10, 2014. Justin Bourque, 24, was charged with murder on Friday in the slayings of the three Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers, Constables Fabrice Georges Gevaudan, 45; David Joseph Ross, 32, and Douglas James Larche, 40, during a shooting spree in the eastern Canadian city of Moncton. The shooting spree was one of the worst of its kind in Canada, where gun laws are stricter than in the United States and deadly attacks on police are rare. REUTERS/Mark Blinch

Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers gather to attend the funeral for three fellow officers who were killed last week in Moncton, New Brunswick, June 10, 2014. Justin Bourque, 24, was charged with murder on Friday in the slayings of the three Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers, Constables Fabrice Georges Gevaudan, 45; David Joseph Ross, 32, and Douglas James Larche, 40, during a shooting spree in the eastern Canadian city of Moncton. The shooting spree was one of the worst of its kind in Canada, where gun laws are stricter than in the United States and deadly attacks on police are rare. REUTERS/Mark Blinch

Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers gather to attend the funeral for three fellow officers who were killed last week in Moncton, New Brunswick, June 10, 2014. Justin Bourque, 24, was charged with murder on Friday in the slayings of the three Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers, Constables Fabrice Georges Gevaudan, 45; David Joseph Ross, 32, and Douglas James Larche, 40, during a shooting spree in the eastern Canadian city of Moncton. The shooting spree was one of the worst of its kind in Canada, where gun laws are stricter than in the United States and deadly attacks on police are rare. REUTERS/Mark Blinch

Report an error Related Stories Related Videos Topics

Thousands of police officers are in Moncton, N.B., Tuesday to attend the funeral of three RCMP constables who were shot and killed last week in the line of duty.

Fabrice Georges Gevaudan, Dave Joseph Ross and Douglas James Larch were killed June 4 when they responded to calls from concerned citizens about a man walking around a north-end neighbourhood with firearms. Two other officers were injured.

Justin Bourque, 24, is charged with three counts of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder.

The officers from across the country who arrived in Moncton are expected to be joined by Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Governor General David Johnston, among other dignitaries.

So many officers were expected at the funeral that on Monday, Mayor George LeBlanc put a call out to residents to open their homes as all the hotel rooms in the city were booked. Within hours, more than 875 people had offered to host officers.

Hundreds of citizens are also expected to line the processional route as the caskets carrying the bodies of the three Mounties moves through the streets on its way to the Moncton Coliseum beginning at approximately 10:45 a.m. AT.

The funeral is set to begin at 1 p.m. The city has set up public viewing sites as there won't be enough room in the coliseum to hold everyone.

Thursday afternoon, Ross' widow, Rachael, put out a statement saying Ross was 'a devoted and attentive father' to their son, Austin. She called her husband 'a man of integrity who put his all into everything he did.'

An avid outdoorsman, Ross loved dogs, including his current police dog, Danny. When the couple first started dating, he had a dog named Art.

'Rachael and Dave's relationship blossomed going for walks with Art. When Dave and Rachael would hold hands, Art would often try to nose their hands apart because he wanted all of Dave's attention. These were very special memories the couple shared,' the statement said. Click to open in new window

Post By http://www.torontosun.com/2014/06/10/police-officers-gather-in-moncton-for-mountie-memorial