IT WASN’T just about the 13 Victoria Police Officers, protective services officers, custody officers, police public service employees and chaplains who have died on duty in the past 12 months.
The names of four police officers from other jurisdictions, including Tasmania, PNG and New Zealand were also read out at a regional National Police Remembrance Day service at St Paul’s Anglican Church in Korumburra on Monday this week.
Front of mind, of course, were the deaths of Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson (26182) and Senior Constable Vadim De Waart-Hottart (44954), both shot and killed while executing a search warrant at Porepunkah in the state’s north-east on Tuesday, August 26.
They were the last of 17 names read out by Acting Inspector Jason Hullick of the Bass Coast Police Service Area.
He recalled the day and the news that no one wants to hear.
“I was in the office with Superintendent Cooper that day, when the incident was unfolding and I will always remember a comment in one of the first reports we received, “member deceased”, said Act. Insp. Hullick.
But the service and sacrifice of all of the 175 Victorian police officers who have died in the line of duty since 1837, even before the establishment of Victoria Police in 1853, were also remembered.
Police officers like Constable Michael Scanlan (2118), 34, shot by the Kelly Gang at Stringybark Creek on October 26, 1878, along with his workmates Constable Thomas Lonigan (2423), 36, and Sergeant Michael Kennedy (2009), 36, are early entries on a harrowing honour roll which not only records the names of the fallen but also the circumstances of their deaths.
But as Superintendent Stephen Cooper from Eastern Regional Command reminded us, the day was also an opportunity to remember others who have been seriously harmed, or worse, by their work as police officers.
“Policing exposes us as police officers to things that other people should not be exposed to, that they should be protected from. But these experiences can have a lasting impact,” he said at the service at Korumburra this week, while making special mention of the families, chaplains and others who look after the welfare of police.
A former President of Victoria Police Legacy, a charitable organisation dedicated to supporting the families of police officers who have lost their lives, Mr Cooper said we also need to remember those who have been harmed by their service.
The event included a warm welcome by Reverand Fran Grimes, including a welcome to country, the parading of the National Flag and the singing of the National Anthem, the presentation of police colours, the lighting of a candle “in remembrance of those police officers whose memory we honour today” and finally a minutes’ silence.
As well as members of police command, including Acting Inspector of the Baw Baw PSA Paula Linford, there were also a number of local police officers who took part in the memorial event, supported by members of other local emergency services including SES and CFA, and members of the general community.
There wasn’t a big turnout of serving local police officers, clearly getting on with the job, even on National Police Remembrance Day and Blue Ribbon Day.
Both the Bass Coast and South Gippsland shire councils illuminated public buildings on National Police Remembrance Day, Monday, September 29. Berninnneit, Cowes, was bathed in blue light as was South Gippsland’s main office in Leongatha.