Journal Archive
Remembering the fallen
Three Australian police officers were killed in the execution of their duty during the 12 months to September this year. This chilling announcement was made at the recent Police Remembrance Day service at Fort Largs Police Academy.
No South Australian police were among the three who died, but Police Association president, Peter Alexander, said that this State's "reasonably good record in terms of death" shouldn't be taken for granted.
"The professionalism of our people is showing up in recent years," he said. "But we're probably lucky we don't have more (deaths) when you consider the amount of times that our people put themselves on the line on behalf of the community." Among those honoured at the service was slain 31-year-old senior constable, David Barr. His wife, Gwenda, 38, and youngest daughter, Sarah, 13, paid respect to their husband and father who was stabbed to death at Salisbury interchange in 1990.
They laid a wreath with which Gwenda believed she was not only honouring her husband, but all 58 South Australian police officers who have lost their lives serving the community.
"It's a small way that I remember David every year," she said. "I was grateful for the short time I had to spend with him before his death, (but) you can't go through the type of trauma that David's death was and not feel pain and anger."
Addressing a gathering of about 200, police chaplain David Marr said that police officers understand and accept that serving their community necessarily means placing themselves at risk.
"It's a time to pay tribute to loved ones and celebrate their lives again," he said after the service. "We also remember the remarkable courage on the part of the families of these people."
Marr was aware of a "healthy shedding of tears" during the ceremony and sensed that people were "getting in touch" with the horrific events surrounding their respective losses.
Services were held simultaneously throughout Australasia and the South West Pacific on 29th September. Those Australians killed during the year preceding September were:
* Senior Constable Timothy Lewczuk (Victoria Police).
* Constable David Carty (New South Wales Police).
* Detective Sergeant Leonard Hooper (Queensland Police).
Peter Alexander, who attended the service as representative of the Police Association and its members, said it was "very significant" to remember police who had been killed in the line of duty. He said it was a moving experience to see widows and children laying wreaths.
"The Association has always supported the concept of a service, but I have a concern that there's not enough opportunity given to serving police to be present," he said. "The significance of the occasion would be further enhanced if they were given the opportunity to attend and participate."
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