By ALENA HIGGINS
THERE were sombre scenes at St Mary’s Church on Monday as Warwick’s men and women in blue paused to remember lives lost in the line of duty.
Flanked by family, friends and emergency service personnel, law enforcers paid tribute to the 140 Queensland police officers and their families who have made the ultimate sacrifice since the Queensland Police Service’s (QPS) inception 150 years ago.
In his commissioner’s address, Acting Inspector Stewart Day labelled National Police Remembrance Day the most significant on the police calendar.
“Every day all over our diverse state, police officers demonstrate bravery, courage, decisiveness, skill, communication and diligence from our first year constables to our most senior officers,” Acting Inspector Day said.
He said officers who join the QPS swear an oath to protect and serve, yet the inherent dangers of the job meant they risked their own safety as a result.
Acting Senior Sergeant Shane Reid acknowledged the contribution of all staff members who had fallen, honouring them for their diligent service in what was sometimes a “thankless job”.
Father Franco Filipetto led the congregation in prayer, calling for an easing of suffering for those left behind as well as the former police officers unable to serve due to stress and trauma.
No officers have been killed in the line of duty from the police jurisdictions of Australia and the South West Pacific Region since National Police Remembrance Day 2013.
