Kamloops RCMP host memorial for three officers killed in 1962
By Contributor
The Kamloops RCMP is hosted a memorial service to commemorate the memory of Constables Keck, Weisgerber and Pedersen, who lost their lives in the line of duty in Kamloops on June 18, 1962.
Monday, (June 18), a solemn memorial service will be held in front of the Kamloops City Detachment to commemorate the 50th anniversary of this tragedy, one that rocked the community and the nation.
The three young Kamloops Mounted Police officers were responding to a call of a man with a rifle and followed the armed suspect into the Peterson Creek area.
They continued to talk to the man in an effort to convince him to put his rifle down. In the area of Peterson Creek close to where a memorial now stands, the suspect turned and open fire on the three officers. Within minutes, all three police officers were killed.
After a two hour manhunt, the suspect, 32-year-old George Booth, was located in the upper Peterson Creek plain and was shot and killed in an exchange of gun fire with Cpl. Jack White.
Until the horrific event that unfolded in Mayerthorpe Alberta, the killing of the three Kamloops Mounties all within minutes of each other, was the single largest loss of officers in one day that the Force had ever experienced.
Present for this ceremony was senior RCMP Executive Officers, public and elected officials, the wives and families of the deceased members, retired officers who were on duty that day, government dignitaries and Canadian Military officials.
A troop of RCMP officers in Red Serge, joined by the Kamloops Pipe Band, paraded thought the streets of Kamloops to honour their fallen co-workers.
