RESIDENTS of Bombala came out in force on Monday – National Police Remembrance Day – to pay their respects to police officers who have died in the line of duty across Australia.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The fallen officers include Bombala’s own First Class Constable Stanley Peter McInerney who was killed in Bombala in May, 1958, after being hit in the body by a man apprehended in the street and taken to the police station.
Bombala Police Constables Nathan Marks and Steven Gay turned on a lunchtime barbecue at the police station to commemorate the day.
Constable Marks said about 50 members of the community, including emergency services representatives, attended the lunch.
The Monaro Local Area Command provided the food which was cooked by the Lions Club.
Constable Marks said the 2014 National Police Remembrance Day coincided with the country’s heightened terrorism alert and came with a message from NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione for officers to look after themselves and their partners.
But it was not only acts of terrorism which posed a risk.
Constable McInerney died after a blow to the body in what should have been a routine arrest.
“It is important for the community, especially its younger members, to know the role that the police play in their town and understand that, unfortunately, some police officers do die in the line of duty,” Constable Marks said.
Constable Marks thanked all members of the community who attended Bombala’s Remembrance Day commemorations on Monday.
The Bombala ceremony was just one of many held across Australia on Monday.
In Sydney’s Domain, hundreds of NSW officers lined up alongside dignitaries, family and friends at a ceremony to honour the 252 officers who have died on the frontline since the state’s police force was established in 1862.
The last NSW officer to have died on duty was Detective Inspector Bryson Anderson, killed in a Sydney knife attack in December 2012.
“Every day that goes by since we lost an officer means
we’re one day closer to the next loss of an officer,” Commissioner Andrew Scipione said.
“Freedom doesn’t come for free.
“There’s a price to be paid and everyone that’s got their name on their wall gave more than their fair share.”
Police Minister Stuart Ayres and opposition leader John Robertson joined outgoing NSW Governor Marie Bashir in laying wreaths at the memorial wall.
Wearing full police uniform, Dame Marie addressed the crowd and spoke of the enormous toll the deaths of police officers have on the community.
It was her last official duty as governor before stepping down today.