Tasmanian Constable Keith Smith was fatally shot in June whilst serving a court warrant, while a manhunt of unprecedented scale continues for the man accused of fatally shooting two Victorian officers just last month.
Western Australia Police Commissioner Col Blanch attended the funerals of Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim de Waart, sharing in the shock and grief felt right across the policing community.
“All those officers were simply performing their regular duties, serving court orders or conducting search warrants,” he said. “Our officers are always conscious of the potential for danger, but nobody could reasonably expect such horrific and tragic outcomes.”
Commissioner Blanch will be joined by His Excellency, the Governor Chris Dawson and Police Minister Reece Whitby in leading the WA Police service at the Police Academy chapel in Joondalup this morning (Monday 29 September).
They will lay wreaths for the 89 WA officers who have paid the ultimate price for their service, losing their lives in the line of duty. The names of those fallen officers are commemorated on the Memorial Wall facing the Flame of Remembrance at the Academy.
Those officers are also featured on the National Memorial Wall in Canberra, along with the names of the
officers killed in recent months.
Police Remembrance Day acknowledges all officers who have died in the line of duty, a solemn reminder
of the courage and dedication of those who work each day to keep our community safe.
Blue and white chequered ribbons are worn on Police Remembrance Day to honour fallen police officers.
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