Police pay tribute to fallen colleagues

Geraldton Police Station courtyard was awash with blue last week as officers gathered for national Police Remembrance Day to honour those who died in the line of duty.

Police from across the Mid West-Gascoyne region joined local politicians and the public to lay wreathes and hear the names of fallen officers.

Speaking at the ceremony, District Superintendent Mike Bell highlighted the sacrifice police undertook in their daily roles.

“Today we recognise the officers that lost their lives, but also the officers out there doing the hard yards,” he said.

“They’re working shifts, forgoing birthdays, anniversaries and weekends to keep the community safe.

“We also thank the community for their support and I’d like to remind my officers that we police with the community’s consent so its important that we maintain professionalism and engagement with them.”

National Police Remembrance day began in 1989 with a memorial erected in Canberra displaying the names of 764 Australian police officers who have lost their lives since 1803.

The service is held on September 29 to coincide with the Feast of Saint Michael, the patron saint of battle, security forces and paratroops.

The names of 82 WA officers who died in the line of duty were read out, followed by a moment of silence.

Constable Malcolm Stanaway, who was shot while attending a disturbance in Beresford in 1979, was also remembered.

His police partner at the time, Constable Allan Rice, was on hand to pay tribute to his fallen friend.

Supt Bell said preventing police deaths was a difficult task given officers were first responders to dangerous incidents.

“Policing these days is a business so we look at our risks and resources we need to apply but ultimately at the end of the day police are required to go into dangerous circumstances so we rely on them to fall back on their training,” he said.

“We want the community to know that they’re safe and secure.

“We’re doing the best we can but we still rely on the public for information and to ensure that their own property is secured and safe.”