A lone casket draped in a Canadian flag stood in the centre of Peace Portal Alliance Church as Dave Brolin was honoured one last time.
The RCMP pilot, a 46-year-old husband and father to two young children, died in a helicopter crash near Cultus Lake on Jan. 17 after a police training exercise.
On Thursday, hundreds of family, friends and police officers in full dress gathered in Surrey to remember the man credited with saving many lives through military service, search-and-rescue work and his RCMP duties.
Cpl. Paul Hayes, Brolin’s tactical flight officer for the last four years, spoke on behalf of the family to equal parts laughs and tears.
“Know that your dad’s a hero and he will always be a hero,” Hayes said, directly addressing Brolin’s eight-year-old daughter and 11-year-old son. “Of all his accomplishments in life, he was proudest of you two.”
Brolin was often nicknamed “Captain Hollywood” for the dozens of times he’s flown for film crews and “Captain Holiday” for his knack of maximizing time off to spend with his family.
But more than anything, Hayes will remember his friend as a motivated and courageous difference-maker.
“We can say we have saved a life or two, and we have caught prolific offenders. We put people in jail and have reunited loved ones,” Hayes said, his voice breaking.
“This is what I thought being a police officer is all about and I got to live it thanks to you.”
The cause of Brolin’s helicopter crash is still under investigation by the Transportation Safety Board and B.C. Coroners’ Service.
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