Remembering officers killed while on duty
Saturday, September 29 is a special day for NZ Police.
It’s Police Remembrance Day — the feast day of Archangel Michael, the patron Saint of Police — which pays tribute to police officers who died in the line of duty.
It also remembers police staff who have died in the past year.
The Roll of Honour listing New Zealand police officers slain on duty had three historical names added to it in 2016, bringing the number to 32 officers killed by a criminal act since records began in 1866.
Senior Constable Glen Snee was the last recorded after he was fatally wounded on May 7, 2009 while carrying out a routine search warrant at the home of Jan Molenaar in Napier.
Katikati Police Sergeant Steve Hindmarsh said it is very sobering when an officer is killed in the line of duty.
“The police are like one big extended family and it is a sad time when one of our own is taken.”
It is also a reminder of how careful police officers have to be when dealing with people and incidents.
“Complacency can creep in when doing the job day in and day out, and the death of an officer provides a big reality check about the potential dangers which we face daily,” he said.
A Police Remembrance Day pin, which is a joint venture between NZ Police and the NZ Police Association, is worn by officers in the week leading up to and on September 29.
It is also worn in the days before and day of a police funeral. The pin is a police chevron embedded with a huia feather. The tail plumage of the huia bird is considered extremely special. The incorporation of the police chevron into the tail of the feather with a small cut at the top signifying loss,represents the honour and loss of someone special to police.
The pins are available for sale at police stations for $3, with money raised going to support the Police Families Charitable Trust for families of NZ Police who have been slain while carrying out their police duties.
Some Western Bay staff will go to Rotorua to be part of Saturday’s Remembrance Day ceremony.