The dangers that haunt officers in line of duty

IT’S always in the back of your mind as a police officer that any job could end in tragedy, says the head of the police union.

The Police Association of Tasmania expressed its sympathy and condolences to everyone involved in the fatal police shooting at Brighton on Monday night.

Association president Colin Riley said the incident highlighted the dangerous work police do in the community.

“This is a tragedy for the deceased man, his family and friends, as well as the police officers and all emergency services personnel who were involved,” he said.

“It is another example of our members putting themselves at risk to protect members of the community who

JESSICA HOWARD

were on site at this incident.”

Mr Riley said the officers involved were first responders from the Bridgewater station.

“No police officer goes to work at the start of their shift thinking this will happen to them on their watch,” he said.

“These are dynamic situations and a second can make a difference between a police officer being deceased and an offender being deceased.

“In this particular case, the officers used their training, experience and executed their duties to the best of their ability and they went home at the end of their shift to be with their families.”

A Professional Standards investigation will take place into the shooting and members would co-operate fully as required, Mr Riley said.

He said an average of four police officers were assaulted each week, and there had been five serious assaults on police across Tasmania in the past four months.