Police from across Canada honour fallen Montreal officer in massive funeral procession

Thousands of police officers from across Quebec and Canada marched through downtown Montreal on Tuesday in a solemn funeral procession for Montreal police officer Mohamad Lamine Benredouane, bringing parts of the city to a standstill as mourners gathered to pay their respects.

Nearly 5,000 officers took part in the procession to the Bell Centre, where a ceremonial funeral was held for Benredouane, whose death has deeply affected the law-enforcement community and the public.

Bagpipes echoed through the downtown core as officers in dress uniform filled city streets, joined by representatives from police services across the country, Indigenous peacekeepers and members of the Canadian Armed Forces.

Police Chief Fady Dagher told thousands of people gathered at the Bell Centre that the death of Mohamed Lamine Benredouane felt like losing a member of his own family.

Benredouane should not have been on duty the day he was killed, Dagher said, explaining that the slain officer had been injured a short time before he responded to a 911 call on June 22 about a gunman. But when the call came, Benredouane and his partner were first on scene.

“You cut short his murderous rampage. How many people did you save?” Dagher said.

“Because of that individual, a police officer and a citizen lost their lives that day. A female officer was critically injured. If you hadn’t been there, and acted so quickly and courageously, how many more deaths would we be mourning?” Dagher said.

He told the audience that Benredouane was described by his fellow officers as brave and protective of his colleagues and the public. Born in Algeria, Benredouane loved police symbols since he was a child, Dagher said.

Benredouane was also the father of a two-year-old son and an unborn child, said Dagher, who cried as he apologized to the children for not being able to save their father.

For many in attendance, the loss felt personal.

Sandra Greco, whose son is a police officer close in age to Benredouane, said the funeral underscored the risks officers face every day.

“A little younger than the police officer that passed away, but that’s what goes into my mind,” she said. “Anyone can answer a call, right?”

Her daughter, Nadia Greco, said several members of their extended family also work in policing.

“It was a little too real thinking that could have been him,” she said.

Spectators lined the procession route, with many expressing sadness over the officer’s death and appreciation for the show of solidarity.

“It’s sad when you lose someone that’s in law enforcement in that manner,” one attendee said.

Others travelled long distances to take part in the tribute.

Jim Quesnel, chief warrant officer of the Royal Montreal Regiment, said those in uniform were united in grief.

“We’re sharing the mourning with everybody in uniform here,” he said. “It’s collective mourning for that poor man.”

Canadian military police officer Mike Courchesne said the gathering was an opportunity to honour those who died while serving.

“It’s just a great assembly to remember the memory of people that passed in service of their country,” he said.

The scale of the ceremony also left an impression on visitors who unexpectedly encountered the procession.

“I think it’s phenomenal,” said one tourist.

Another visitor said the turnout highlighted the number of people devoted to public safety across Canada.

“Tt gives you more of an idea of the size of the country and the number of people who are involved in keeping everyone else safe,” the tourist said.

As the procession moved through the city and thousands stood in silence, the ceremony served as a powerful display of solidarity from a community mourning one of its own.