Mid West-Gascoyne police officers stop and stand to pay tribute to fallen officer Constable Anthony Woods

Mid West and Gascoyne police officers joined the entire “blue family” on Thursday to bid an emotional farewell to one of their own, who made the ultimate sacrifice while trying to protect the community. Local officers gathered to pay their respects to Constable Anthony Woods, the 28-year-old officer killed in the line of duty when he was run over after pulling over an allegedly stolen vehicle in Ascot last month. At Const. Woods’ funeral at Optus Stadium, Police Commissioner Col Blanch picked up his hand-held radio and sent a message across the airwaves, ordering all officers to stand. “Constable Anthony Woods, registered number 17631 will be departing Optus Stadium on his final journey,” he said. Those in police vehicles were told to pull over wherever they were, activate their emergency lights, get out and stand to attention to observe a minute’s silence for their fallen comrade. Officers across the Mid West and Gascoyne, including Geraldton and Meekatharra, stopped what they were doing, with many gathering outside their stations to mark the minute’s silence, while flags were flown at half mast. Mid West Gascoyne Police Superintendent Steve Post said: “I knew Anthony personally and I can attest to all the comments about his dedication and passion for the job. “His dream was to become a police officer and in his short time, he left a lasting positive impression on all people that he came into contact with. “He was genuinely a great guy and he will be missed by his family, friends and colleagues alike.” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was among those to pay tribute to Const. Woods on Thursday, saying in a statement the hearts of all Australians went out to his loved ones and that he was a “young man cruelly robbed of his future”. “A husband, son, brother and uncle taken from his loved ones,” he said. Const. Woods was the 88th WA police officer to die in the line of duty. Reagan Ainsley Chown, 23, has been charged with murdering Const. Woods.