Officers from across Perth’s southern suburbs gathered for a National Police Remembrance Day Ceremony in Mandurah on Thursday.
More than 100 people poured into the Eastlake Church for the occasion that honoured officers who had fallen.
Since 1989, National Police Remembrance Day has honoured officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.
The service is normally held on September 29 to coincide with the feast of Saint Michael, the Patron Saint of battle, security forces and paratroops.
Most of us get through... with a couple of bumps and scars but occasionally there’s the odd colleague that doesn’t make it. It’s really important to recognise their contribution to the police force and to the community generally.
- Mandurah Police Station Senior Sergeant Darren Hart
Superintendent Andy Greatwood lead the ceremony and said he was pleased with the strong turnout on the day.
The service included the last post and reveille, a laying of wreaths and several musical performances by the Foundation Christian College choir, which was lead by the school’s coordinator of creative ministries Roz Smith.
Among those laying wreaths was City of Mandurah mayor Rhys Williams and coastal ward councillor Merv Darcy, federal member for Canning Andrew Hastie, Dawesville MP Zak Kirkup and Murray-Wellington MP Robyn Clarke.
Mandurah pastor Josh Edwards also addressed the audience to read Amazing Grace and to thank police for their ongoing fight to protect the community.
Mandurah Police Station Senior Sergeant Darren Hart thanked those who attended the event.
“It’s a very important day in that I think all police officers join wanting to make a difference and wanting to help the community,” he said.
“Most of us get through that with a couple of bumps and scars but occasionally there’s the odd colleague that doesn’t make it.
“It’s really important to recognise their contribution to the police force and to the community generally.”
Senior Sergeant Hart helped read out the West Australian Police Force honour roll during the ceremony.
He said it was important that those officers weren’t forgotten.
“I would hate to think that some of those people on that list… would be forgotten, that their contribution would fade away and not be remembered,” he said.
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He said while it was a sombre occasion it was encouraging to see community support for local police.
“[Pastor Josh Edwards] words letting everyone know that police do have the support of the community, it’s really encouraging to hear.
“A lot of the people we deal with are the people whose support we don’t have, which I can understand.
“It’s just nice to know that the majority of the community support the police, respect what we do and are appreciative of it.”
The touching service was followed up by a morning tea, giving attends time to reflect on the importance of policing and those lost while trying to protecting the community.
The last West Australian Police officer to die on duty was First Class Constable Dennis Michael Green who was killed in a traffic accident near Toodyay on December 7, 2017.
Follow Caitlyn Rintoul on Twitter via @caitlynrintoul.
