Police officers will be honouring men and women who died in the line of duty while protecting the community.
The police community will be paying their respects to officers who lost their lives for National Police Remembrance Day today.
Added to the list of honourees are the two officers who died in the tragic Wieambilla shootings in Queensland, Constables Matthew Arnold and Rachel McCrow.
Stay up-to-date on the latest news with The QLD Briefing – keeping you in the loop with the region’s breaking news as it hits.
The Queensland Police Service Constables died while responding to a missing persons call in December of 2022.
The pair were shot dead by Gareth, Nathaniel and Stacey Train in what was believed to have been a religiously motivated attack.
Western Australia Police Force Constable Anthony Woods has also been added to this year’s list of honourees after being killed while responding to an incident in June of 2023.
The names, place and dates of death of the honourees are added to a touchstone before being blessed at a dawn service and mounted to the memorial wall.
AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw said the day shines a light on the sacrifices made by our officers every day to keep our communities safe.
Today is a time to pay tribute to Constables McCrow, Arnold and Woods and, their commitment, bravery and dedication. Today is a time to honour their lives and grieve with their loved ones,
Commissioner Reece Kershaw
“We always pray for the National Police Memorial Wall to stay untouched – for it to remain a monument of the past so our grief can be contained.
“We dread having one more name etched into the Wall because one more name is one too many.”
The family of Constables McCrow and Arnold released a statement today in honour of their fallen family members.
Matthew and Rachel epitomised what it meant to be a police officer,
McCrow and Arnold families
“Bright, brave, thoughtful and kind. Always putting others before themselves.
“Every day, our families deeply miss their presence, and our love and pride in both Matthew and Rachel will never waver.
“This National Police Remembrance Day, our families would like to extend our profound gratitude to every person who has shown kindness since December 12, 2022, the evil day our worlds shattered, and lives changed forever.”
Subscribe to The Briefing, Australia’s fastest-growing news podcast on Listnr today. The Briefing serves up the latest news headlines and a deep dive into a topic affecting you. All in under 20 minutes.