City pauses to honour region’s fallen police
TOOWOOMBA paused to pay its respects to the men and women who served their communities on the front lines, fulfilling a vow to protect and serve with honour.
One of the biggest crowds seen in recent years filled St Luke’s Anglican Church in the city for National Police Remembrance Day.
It marked four months to the day Toowoomba Tactical Crime Squad Senior Constable Brett Forte was killed on duty protecting the community.
Police Chaplain Reverend Jeff Baills told the packed congregation the national day was one of significance, not least because of Snr Const. Forte’s murder in a “mindless, senseless act of pure evil”, but because it gave pause to all officers who served on the front lines across the nation.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, speaking at the service in Canberra, said the death of any officer was a tragedy for their families and colleagues, but “also an assault on the community”.
The nation’s leader paid tribute to Snr Const Forte at the National Police Memorial and the four officers with him when he died on duty on May 29.
“These are dangerous times for our police services and there can never be any set and forget in our approach to supporting our police services.
“We reflect on the events here in suburban Melbourne, in Endeavour Hills, in 2014; we reflect on
the murder of Curtis Cheng in Parramatta in 2015; and more recently, the brutal and senseless killing of Brett Forte in Queensland.
“All of these tragic incidents and many others remind us of the threats you
face every day and so we give thanks today for your work and your service.
“I want to commend the four other officers, Senior Constables Catherine Nielsen, Scott Hill, Stephen Barlow and Constable Brittany Poulton who showed incredible bravery in their response to the shooting.
“Their selflessness, love and courage as that of Senior Constable Brett Forte is an example for us all.
“Senior Constable Forte is survived by his wife, Susan, also a police officer, and their three children and we say again today that we are with them in their grief, we will never forget their suffering, or their sacrifice.”
Snr Const. Forte’s family was in Canberra for the service.
❝ These are dangerous times for our police services and there can never be any set and forget in our approach to supporting our police services.
— Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull