Thousands run for fallen Mounties as makeshift memorial dismantled

MONCTON, N.B. – Hundreds of people running for three fallen Mounties put their race on hold today to shake the hands of officers as a memorial in front of an RCMP detachment was dismantled.

RCMP Sgt. Alain LeBlanc says the memorial race was held to honour the three officers gunned down in Moncton.

LeBlanc says as people ran past the Codiac detachment, every runner stopped to shake the hands of Mounties dressed in their red serge, who were dismantling a makeshift memorial.

LeBlanc described it as a final salute and says the officers were very touched.

He says the memorial on the steps of the detachment — which included flowers, gifts and notes — took about an hour to take down and dozens of people watched.

LeBlanc says some of the items will go to the families of constables Douglas Larche, Fabrice Gevaudan and Dave Ross.