HORROR OF COP KILLING
Sergeant blasted with a gun hidden in suspect’s pants
A SERGEANT inside a police station was shot dead by a handcuffed suspect who was reportedly known to terror police.
Matt Ratana, 54, died in the early hours of Friday morning after being hit while booking in a man said to have been suspected of having ammunition.
New Zealand- born Sgt Ratana, a dad- of- one, is understood to have been shot five times at close range. Police say the 23- year- old suspect then appears to have turned the gun on himself.
The suspect was last night fighting for his life in hospital. A probe has been launched into how he managed to smuggle a loaded gun into the custody centre in Croydon, south London.
Colleagues battled in vain to save the “larger- than- life” sergeant following the attack at Croydon custody centre, south London, at 2.15am yesterday.
A grieving pal called Paul, 27, said: “He was a leader amongst men, a giant of a man. We’re all just devastated. It’s hard to believe what’s happened. He was close to retiring from the force.
Local cafe worker Lisa Verrilli, 39, said Sgt Ratana was a “true gent” and “devoted family man”.
Shock
She said: “Despite a demanding job, he was always in a good mood, happy and cheerful.”
Metropolitan Police Federation chairman Ken Marsh said: “Officers across London are in shock and sick to their stomachs at the nature of his death.
“We and all members of the police family across the country are all utterly heartbroken.”
Sgt Ratana was the 10th officer killed in the line of duty in the past decade.
The gunman is not understood to have been a subject of interest to security services, but reports suggest he may have previously been referred to the anti- extremism Prevent programme.