Journal Archive
by Brett Williams
Senior Constable Gordon Loft was killed on duty seven years ago - but his father, Des, still agonizes over his death.
Des, 68, laid flowers in honour of his son at the National Police Remembrance Day service at Fort Largs Police Academy on September 29.
Loft, 35, was run down by a drunk driver while he was operating a radar unit on Gorge Road, Athelstone, in April, 1991. He was survived by his wife, Pauline - killed in a car accident the following year - and daughter, Melissa.
At the recent service, senior police chaplain, Reverend David Marr, spoke of police officers having "no ordinary call or commitment to duty". He reminded the gathering of about 200 of "the dangers that arise in policing duties".
"Officers...knowingly face those dangers," he said.
Six Australian police officers were killed in the line of duty during the 12 months to September this year. They were:
• Sergeant Gary Silk (Victoria Police).
• Senior Constable Rodney Miller (Victoria Police).
• Constable Peter Ball (WA Police).
• Constable Cheryl Klumper (WA Police).
• Constable Peter Forsyth (NSW Police).
• Senior Sergeant Raymond Smith (NSW Police).
Since 1847, 58 South Australian police officers have lost their lives serving the community. "In a number of instances, we can be proud of their acts of personal courage and heroism," Marr said.
Services were held around the nation to honour all Australian police officers killed in the line of duty.
Police Association president, Peter Alexander, said that the significance of the ceremony was its "focus on the fact that policing is about people".
"It (policing) is a labour-intensive industry, and the fact that people put their safety at risk to perform their duty should never be forgotten," he said. "We can never take for granted that it's a dangerous occupation."
Des Loft wept after the service but insisted that he would continue to attend each year. He's never missed a ceremony since his son's death: he values the opportunity to "pay tribute to all those officers who lost their lives in the course of duty".
"The loss of a person is like a big hole in any family, whatever has caused his or her death," he said.
"I've got a great affection for the South Australian police, (and) not solely because my son was killed as a policeman.
"Many of them find themselves in danger and do get injured. To me, they're a great group of men and women."[End]
