Const. Douglas Larche was a 'good man, good police officer'

A Saint John Police officer is remembering his high school friend, DouglasLarche who was killed last week in Moncton, as a funny and easygoing person.

Const. Don Shannon went to St. Malachys High School in Saint John withLarchein the early 1990s.

Shannon said Larchewas a man with a great sense of humour, who loved his job and family.

Shannon said Saint John, Moncton and the RCMP have suffered a huge loss with Larches death.

"He was a good man, good police officerand there's no doubt in my mind that he was a wonderful husband and father,"he said.

Shannon said Larche was a smart and funny individual who was great to have around.

"You had to pay attention to what you said when Doug was around because if you said something silly or absurd, he'd the first one to point it out to you, he said.

You didn't want to get in a conversation where you were trying to match wits with Doug Larche because you probably weren't going to be quick enough."

"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,"she said in her statement.

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.

Larche had three daughters, aged 9, 8 and 4.

Larche was one of the three officers killed on duty last Wednesday in Moncton.

When Larche didnt return Shannons email last Wednesday, the Saint John Police offer said he tried not to dwell on the worst-possible outcome.

"I just figured he was busy, maybe self-consciously I didn't press the issue, he said.

I'm sure I could have found out if I wanted to. I guess you just kind of hoped.I was like 'What are the chances' and I was like, 'Nah it wouldn't be."

But when he found out the fate of his old high school friend, Shannon said the feelings were overwhelming.

"This was someone I knew. This is a guy that I grew up with. We once had words over a girl. Someone that I would borrow his Rollerblades. It was different. It was something that wasn't supposed to happen,"he said.