RIP Sgt Mark Gallagher

[source: file story on CBC here]

Mountie killed in Haiti

Last Updated: Thursday, January 14, 2010 | 6:52 PM ET

CBC News

One of two Mounties who were missing in the wake of the devastating earthquake in Haiti has been found dead, the RCMP confirmed Thursday.

The body of Sgt. Mark Gallagher was found in the rubble of the residence where he was staying in the capital city.

Gallagher, 50, spoke to his wife Lisa in New Brunswick Wednesday night just half an hour before the earthquake hit to say he was going to bed.

Gallagher had worked as a public relations officer for the RCMP in the Maritimes, but went to Haiti because he wanted more of a challenge, his wife told CBC News.

Another Mountie, Supt. Doug Coates from Ottawa headquarters, is still missing, said spokeswoman Patricia Flood. (more here)

In an earlier CBC story, Lisa talked about her husband, and I am posting it since it shows the measure of this outstanding Canadian:

The wife of a missing RCMP officer in Haiti is anxiously awaiting news as the search for the man and another Mountie continues in the earthquake-ravaged country.

Lisa Gallagher is the wife of Sgt. Mark Gallagher, one of two RCMP officers missing in Haiti. (CBC)Sgt. Mark Gallagher, last based in Halifax, and RCMP Supt. Douglas Coates have been missing since the 7.0-magnitude quake struck Tuesday night.

Lisa Gallagher says it has been a difficult couple of days. But she's not giving up on her husband.

"Physically he's strong and psychologically he's very strong, and I'm just hoping that if he's stuck in that rubble somewhere, he has the strength to hang on until they can get to him," she said Thursday from her home in New Brunswick, where Gallagher is expected to start work in April.

In July, Gallagher, 50, left his position as spokesman for Nova Scotia RCMP in Halifax to join a United Nations peacekeeping mission. He trained and mentored members of that country's police force as part of Project Co-ordination, based in Port-au-Prince.

He was just returning to Haiti when the earthquake hit.

Lisa Gallagher says she spoke to her husband only 30 minutes before. He planned to take a nap.

"He told me that he was really tired after the flight and he made an executive decision not to go to the office," she said. "I'm thinking now that he was probably the only one in the apartment."

RCMP Sgt. Mark Gallagher is in Haiti to train and mentor police in that country. (CBC)Gallagher shared an apartment with several peacekeepers, who are all accounted for in Haiti.

RCMP Supt. Douglas Coates, based in Ottawa, is the other officer missing. He often lectured at the Pearson Peacekeeping Centre in Nova Scotia's Annapolis Valley...

Gallagher, who is bilingual, has been a police officer for 25 years — 12 of those years with the Mounties. His colleagues in the Maritimes call him an inspiration who cares about his community....(more on CBC here)

My thoughts and prayers are with Mrs Gallagher and all who love this Mountie, whose life is a testament to service.

Rest in peace, Sgt Gallagher.