Moncton shootings: Larche family mourns 'selfless' Mountie

Const. Douglas James Larche was killed in Wednesday's shooting in Moncton. His wife Nadine released the following message on Sunday:

Constable Douglas James Larche's family wishes to thank the Greater Moncton community, the communities from around the province, across the country and even the world for their expressed sympathies during these difficult times. Constable Larche was a member of the Codiac RCMP's Major Crime Unit (MCU).

While everyone ran away and hid from danger, Doug ran towards danger without hesitation and gave his life to protect our community. Doug Larche was a proud member of the RCMP for 12 years. He leaves behind his wife Nadine, his three beautiful daughters and the rest of his family.

Constable Larche joined the RCMP on February 4, 2002. He worked in Doaktown, NB and then was transferred to the Codiac detachment in 2006. He has been a General Duty member, Highway Patrol member, Codiac General Investigation Section member and more recently, of the Codiac Major Crime Unit. He received a commander's commendation for saving the life of an unconscious baby in 2008. Doug Larche was an avid runner, finishing many races, and had just completed the Fredericton Half Marathon this past Mother's Day where he set a new personal best time. In 2008, Doug received a Commander's Commendation for saving the life of an unconscious baby in Moncton.

First and foremost, Doug lived for his family. His three daughters, aged 4, 8 and 9, were his little princesses, his most precious treasures. He was an extraordinary father and husband, loyal and completely selfless. He enjoyed doing presentations at his daughters' school and daycare in uniform and with a police car.

Doug had a silly sense of humour, one that he would often only reveal to his family and close friends. He was the best person I knew. I had and still have the utmost love and admiration for him. Let us honour his memory and that of his deceased colleagues so that our daughters and all of the other affected children know that their fathers were heroes.

We now begin the impossible task of honouring his memory and mourning his death. We thank our RCMP family for their work and the outpouring of support.

Honouring Doug's memory is a celebration of life. We must not let fear dictate our future; Doug worked every day for a safer and better world for all of us. He will be remembered for his hard work, loyalty, sense of duty, and especially his special sense of humour.

Our family's thoughts and prayers are with the families who have also experienced a loss, the two injured members and their families, and with all the members from Codiac Detachment.

Doug was a proud member of the RCMP and was a very private person and protective of his family. As such, I ask you to refrain from posting pictures of his precious little girls in order to protect their privacy. It is what he would have wanted.

The family ask the public and the media to respect their privacy during these difficult times.