More than 3,000 police officers from across North America assembled in the Carleton Fieldhouse Jan. 7 to show their respects for a slain Ottawa police officer.

Beneath a cold grey sky, they marched behind the hearse carrying Const. Ireneusz (Eric) Czapnik, the 51-year-old officer who was stabbed to death Dec. 29.

The hearse was followed by row after row of officers, four abreast, marching in time to a ceremonial drum. The procession included more than 1,200 Ottawa police officers, in dark blue coats and plainclothes; hundreds of yellow-vested Ottawa paramedics and dark-coated Ottawa fire officers; and more than 400 red-vested RCMP officers, brown boots clipping sharply against the pavement.

Behind them came the Ontario Provincial Police, and then officers from forces across the province – Sudbury, Niagara, London, Kingston, Hamilton, Owen Sound and Thunder Bay.

They had come from Canada’s largest cities – Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal – from the smaller municipalities of Sarnia, Timmins, and the First Nations reserve of Kitigan Zibi.

Officers from Quebec, Alberta and the United States marched as well, dressed in patrol uniforms, ceremonial dress and kilts.

Over the course of almost two hours they snaked down salt-stained streets lined with silent spectators, leaving Carleton at the Bronson Street entrance and heading down Sunnyside Avenue before turning up Bank Street and crossing the Rideau Canal to arrive at the Ottawa Civic Centre.

Czapnik’s funeral services were held at the Civic Centre, and attended by local politicians.

A contingent of special constables from Ottawa universities, including Carleton, were to participate in the procession, according to director of the department of university safety Len Boudreault.

Carleton’s president, Roseann Runte, made the decision to offer Carleton’s facilities as a rallying point, Boudreault said.

“We are part of the greater community of Ottawa,” Boudreault said, explaining Carleton’s connection to the fallen officer.

The department of university safety also has a close working relationship with the Ottawa Police Service.