Assistant Commissioner Tony Wright addresses the National Police Remembrance Day service at St Luke's Anglican Church. Nev Madsen
MARKING the lives of men and women killed while helping their communities was the focus of a Toowoomba National Police Remembrance Day service.
Police and community members filled St Luke's Anglican Church this morning to mark what Assistant Commissioner Tony Wright described as the most significant day on the police calendar.
There have been 140 Queensland police officers killed in the line of duty.
Drayton police officer Constable Matthew Connolly was the first, after he drowned while attempting to cross a creek in the Lockyer Valley on August 29, 1861.
"These men and women who faithfully served the Queensland Police Service will truly be missed," Assistant Commissioner Wright said.
Toowoomba City Patrol Group officer Inspector Mark Wheeler said the church service came after a solemn candle-light vigil held at the Toowoomba police memorial on Sunday night.
"National Police Remembrance Day is all about all of us being together as a family, particularly to pay homage to all those police who have lost their lives in the line of duty," Insp. Wheeler said.
"Obviously we would like to never see another name on the police memorial in Canberra.
"Unfortunately the basic fundamental duty of a police officer puts them in harm's way and that gets realised on a daily basis."
He said the day could be an emotional time for police officers.
"It is the one day of the year that is all about police and their families, of course.
"We will see a large contingent of people, members of the public, also members of other government agencies come together to realise and honour the sacrifice people have made in the line of duty."
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