The body of Sgt. Mark Gallagher of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, who was serving on a peacekeeping mission in Haiti, has been found.

Yesterday evening members of the RCMP shared the devastating news with Gallagher’s family.

The information shared with the family was that Sgt. Gallagher’s remains were recovered under the collapsed remains of the apartment building.

Arrangements are being made to return Sgt. Gallagher’s body to Canada.

On July 7, 2009 Mark deployed to Haiti on a nine-month United Nations (UN) Peacekeeping mission.

Gallagher was passionate about assisting those in need and was eager to serve on his first UN mission.

His duties in Haiti included working on Project Coordination and his love of the French language was a perfect fit for his deployment to work with the people of Haiti.

Recently, Gallagher left Haiti to spend three weeks with his family in New Brunswick. Gallagher returned to Haiti just a few hours before the devastating earthquake that trapped him underneath the apartment where he was unable to free himself.

Sgt. Mark Gallagher received the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Commemorative Medal and earned the Police Exemplary Service Medal for over 20 years of police service. Formerly a member of the Moncton Police, Gallagher had been a member of the RCMP for the past 12 years.

Gallagher’s service includes a variety of duties in both New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Prior to his deployment Gallagher was the Media Relations Officer at RCMP Headquarters in Halifax.

On behalf of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, I extend our deepest sympathies to Mark’s family, friends and colleagues. Mark’s RCMP family is heart broken, and there are no words that can describe the incredible loss all of us are feeling.

We ask that you keep Mark’s family and loved ones in your thoughts and prayers. Details on funeral arrangements will be shared in the near future.

I would also like to express my support to all those who lost a relative or friend in this devastating earthquake and to the Haitian people who must now recover and rebuild from this tragedy.

Sgt. Brigdit Leger
Media Relations Officer
H Division RCMP

In memory of RCMP officer Sergeant Mark Gallagher, the public can now provide condolences on the RCMP website. We encourage the public to visit www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/ns to submit a message online.

These messages will be compiled and provided to Sgt. Gallagher’s family.