Fallen officers honoured
Police Remembrance Day service
SEPTEMBER 27 is always a sombre day at the Toowoomba Police Station as staff join their counterparts from across Australia in remembering officers who died in the line of duty.
Hundreds of officers, staff and community members gathered at St Patrick’s Cathedral yesterday to mark National Police Remembrance Day.
“We recognised the 147 police who lost their lives in the line of duty,” Superintendent Mark Kelly said.
“There are lots of officers who our current officers have known over time who made the ultimate sacrifice. Along with Brett Forte, there are people like Stewart Kerlin and Norman Watt who I knew.”
The service heard from members of every major religious group in the city and had representatives from the armed services and the emergency services.
Supt Kelly said the day provided an opportunity to connect with the community.
“As we walked to the cathedral, people were stopping, talking to us and passing on those positive messages to police and the emergency services.”
The tragic murder of the Brett Forte two years ago is still fresh in the minds of Toowoomba officers. Supt Kelly said Senior Constable Forte would always hold a place their hearts.
“We will always remember Brett and we will continue to support his family.”
It was the 30-year anniversary of National Police Remembrance Day. To mark the day, the Qld Police Service held a state service at the site of a new memorial in Brisbane that included the names of all police who died on the job.