‘Part of our heart has gone with you’

POWERFUL scenes filled parts of North Hobart as family, friends and hundreds of Tasmania Police officers gathered to farewell respected country sergeant Rob Cooke.

About 200 guests packed the Turnbull Funerals chapel on Friday as hundreds more stood outside watching a livestream of the service for the 49-year-old father.

Police officers formed a guard of honour along Letitia Street saluting in solidarity as the hearse left the chapel.

The death earlier this month of Sergeant Cooke, who served 31 years with Tasmania Police, was met with shock and sadness from community members.

Some of Mr Cooke’s duties in the force included Radio Dispatch Services, Drug Investigation Services, Eastern Traffic Services and more recently he formed part of a two-man team at the Oatlands subdivision.

In a tribute, Mr Cooke’s parents said “part of our heart has gone with you”.

Speaking at the funeral, Mr Cooke’s two sons farewelled their father after eulogies were read from Tasmania Police Commissioner Darren Hine and the Police Association of Tasmania — an organisation where Mr Cooke served as vice-president.

Mr Cooke was also chairman of Police Legacy Tasmania.

In his speech, Mr Hine paid tribute to Mr Cooke’s dedication and commitment to the police force.

“He was an operational skills instructor, a workplace assessor and an access and equity contact officer. Again, this just demonstrates how tirelessly Cookie was prepared to work to assist his colleagues,” Mr Hine said.

“I know from personal experience that Cookie had an immense impact on many people throughout the 31 years he served with Tasmania Police.

“His dossier contains an extraordinary number of letters of appreciation from members of the public.

“It speaks volumes as to the type of police officer and person that he was, that a considerable number of people wrote to me, as the Commissioner of Police, to acknowledge his efforts.

“The common theme throughout all these letters was that these people had found Cookie to be kind, helpful, caring, patient, professional and brought credit to Tasmania Police.”

The police association said “Rob will be missed by all that met him, worked with him and stood by him”.

“In all his years with Tasmania Police and in particular the PAT, Rob was an influencer in the most positive ways,” a spokesman for PAT said.

“He had the ability to reassure anyone in his presence that all will be OK. He was a firm but fair person who could listen and advise.

“Ultimately Rob’s presence at the executive table is part of why the PAT is where it is today. Rob in many ways probably didn’t understand … the reassurance he gave just by being present.”