Fallen police officers from Queensland, NSW, Western Australia, Victoria and Tasmania have been honoured with touchstones on the National Police Memorial in Canberra.
During the ceremony, held during National Police Remembrance Day on Wednesday (29 September), the 10 touchstones were added to the Memorial Wall and included the names of three police officers who lost their lives in the past 12 months.
Senior Constable of the Queensland Police Service, David Masters; Senior Constable of the NSW Police Force, Kelly Foster; and Detective Senior Constable of Western Australia Police Force, Michael James Cursiter were honoured.
Senior Constable Masters lost his life when he was struck by a stolen motor vehicle as he attempted to conduct a road stop on the Bruce Highway at Burpengary in Queensland on 26 June.
Senior Constable Foster lost her life while attempting to save the life of a member of the public who was drowning at the Wollangambe Canyon, NSW on 2 January.
Detective Senior Constable Cursiter suffered a fatal heart attack following the pursuit of an offender in Perth, Western Australia on 6 November 2020.
A further seven touchstones were added to the Memorial for police officers who were killed or died protecting the community between 1829 and 1949.
The officers were from Victoria Police, Western Australia Police Force and Tasmania Police.
Commissioner for the Australian Federal Police (AFP), Reece Kershaw said while the COVID-19 pandemic presented some challenges to hosting the event, it was vitally important families, friends and colleagues could honour the 808 officers whose names adorned the Memorial Wall.
“Policing can be a very dangerous job and it asks a lot from us and our families; sometimes it asks for all that we can give,” Commissioner Kershaw said.
“Those men and women who have made that sacrifice are remembered for their courage and determination in the face of that danger,” he said.
