Constable Keith Smith to have police funeral after being killed in line of duty
Further details have emerged following the death of a police officer in the line of duty, including his family accepting a police funeral.
Tasmania
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LATEST: The veteran police officer who was killed in the line of duty will have a police funeral, Police Commissioner Donna Adams has confirmed.
Commissioner Adams told media at a press conference on Wednesday that she’s been contacted by every police commissioner around Australia to offer their condolences.
“It’s been really humbling to have all that support,” she said.
She said Constable Keith Anthony Smith’s family accepted the offer of a police funeral.
No charges have been laid yet on the suspect who allegedly shot Constable Smith to death at a rural Tasmanian property on Monday.
Commissioner Adams said upon the advice of the Launceston General Hospital practitioners — they hoped to speak to the accused on Thursday with the intent to lay charges later in that day.
Police have yet to speak with the alleged offender.
“We’re really making decisions based on medical advice,” she said.
Special Operations Group officers were at the incident at North Motton on Monday when Constable Smith was killed.
Commissioner Adam’s said having heard the shots, three SOGs transitioned to their operation gear and moved to the residence.
“We changed our deployment model. Not only do SOGs get deployed to high-risk deployment. There’s been 63 in the last 18 months, but they also provide operational assistance to officers,” she said.
She confirmed only three SOGs attended the incident on Monday.
There were two civilians which were in the near vicinity of the property as part of the repossession process, she said.
The officer accompanying Constable Smith is “traumatised”, Commissioner Adams said.
It is unknown whether the incident was a planned attack and that will form part of police investigation.
“The profile of the alleged offender will also be a part of the investigation,” she said.
Commissioner Adams also confirmed the firearm used was a rifle.
A review and three sets of investigations stemming from this incident.
A police professional standards review, a criminal investigation and a coronial investigation as well as a work health and safety review.
Fatal shooting would have been worse without special ops: Police
INITIAL: Tasmania’s Police Commissioner fears the horrific fatal shooting of a police officer on Monday would’ve been worse without “dedicated” Special Operations Group (SOG) officers.
25-year veteran Constable Keith Anthony Smith tragically died at North Motton, in Tasmania’s North-West, on Monday morning after being shot at a rural property.
No charges have been laid so far, however the suspect is being treated at Launceston General Hospital after sustaining a bullet to his hand.
At the time of the incident, SOG officers were at the end of the driveway when Constable Smith is understood to have knocked on the door to execute a court-issued warrant to repossess a home on Allison Rd.
Commissioner Donna Adams said she feared the horrific event would’ve had worse outcomes had the SOG officers not responded so quickly and professionally, “with such bravery”.
“They and their colleagues from uniform and investigative areas should be commended for their efforts,” Commissioner Adams said.
The SOG was established as a full-time capability in December 2023, at a time when the response model changed, she said.
She clarified the 20-member group was now primarily used for frontline assistance jobs supporting uniformed staff.
Those tasks include family violence and breach of bail matters and assisting investigators with general searches and property entries.
“This is in addition to the high-risk special operations deployments that the community would be familiar with – for example, where tactical capability is provided to safely resolve incidents such as a siege or threat of violence.”
She said this was a traumatic and tragic incident.
“It is an extremely difficult time for the officers involved, their families, and Tasmania Police more broadly,” she said.
“I want to thank every single person who has been involved in the response and the ongoing investigation, and those who have offered their support as we grieve the loss of a fallen officer.”
The Commissioner said she would return to the North-West on Thursday alongside the Acting/Deputy Commissioner and Assistant Commissioners.
Originally published as Constable Keith Smith to have police funeral after being killed in line of duty
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