OTTAWA, ONTARIO -- (Marketwire) -- 09/09/12 -- The Honourable Vic Toews, Minister of Public Safety, issued the following statement today, on the occasion of the RCMP National Memorial Service at the RCMP Depot Division in Regina, Saskatchewan.

"On behalf of our Government, I would like to extend condolences today to the family, friends and colleagues of the fallen RCMP members we are honouring this year - Constable Derek Pineo and helicopter pilot David John Brolin.

As Canadians, we owe a huge debt of gratitude to our RCMP members. Most of us leave for work in the morning with the full expectation that we will return home safe at the end of our day. Police officers begin their shifts with the knowledge that they are facing the unknown and that they could very well be risking their lives while on the job. As a result, a deep level of trust develops among RCMP members, making it all the more painful when one of their own loses their life in the line of duty.

Canadians across the country appreciate and respect the important role the RCMP plays in keeping our streets and communities safe. We recognize that RCMP officers put their lives on the line every day, so that the rest of us can live in peace and security.

Today's ceremony allows us to reflect on the sacrifice made by Constable Pineo, as well as by David Brolin, the first civilian member to be included on the Memorial Wall. Bestowing this honour on a civilian member speaks to the fact that all members of the RCMP are equally dedicated to serving Canadians.

All Canadians mourn the death of police and peace officers, but none feel the loss more profoundly and more painfully than their families and colleagues. Our thoughts and prayers are with you, especially today. I speak on behalf of all Canadians when I say that we will remain forever grateful for the lives, service and sacrifice of your loved ones.

The names engraved in the Memorial Wall in Regina are a lasting tribute. They ensure that future generations will be reminded of the tragic price that others have paid to keep our communities safe."