Bravery medals considered for heroes Constable Rebekah Cass and Sergeant Michael Hutchinson

The two surviving police officers of the horror South-East shooting may be considered for bravery medals, the Police Minister says.

Bravery medals are being considered for the two hero police officers involved in a violent shooting incident that ended with an officer dead and another wounded.

Twenty-four hours after the fatal shooting, Police Minister Joe Szakacs spoke to media before beginning the drive to the state’s South-East to meet with the community grieving the loss of Brevet Sergeant Jason Doig.

Mr Szakacs said it was still early, but commendations for Constable Rebekah Cass and Sergeant Michael Hutchinson – who both bravely rendered aid to Sgt Doig and accused shooter Jaydn Stimson in Senior on Friday – was not out of the question.

Sergeant Michael Hutchinson, injured in a shootout on a rural property at Senior, north of Bordertown, is one of the officers commended as a Hero. Picture: Facebook

“They are heroes, they did all they could to save the life of Brevet Sergeant Doig but also provided immediate first aid for the alleged perpetrator as well,” Mr Szakacs said on Saturday.

“This is a very traumatic incident both for the community but of course for the two other officers involved.

“We will do all we can to recognise the extraordinary heroism of the two other officers.”

Mr Szakacs said the police community was still “numb” in their grief after the “senseless loss of life”, but was heartened to receive an “extraordinary amount” of contact from other states.

“Ministers as well as leaders from other states have reached out to express their condolences to South Australia Police in the broader South Australian community about this loss of life,” he said.

The Minister did not confirm if plans were in place for a state funeral Sgt Doig, and said he had not had those “more meaningful conversations” with the family.

The officer killed in Senior, near Bordertown, has been identified as Jason Doig from Lucindale. Picture: Supplied

Lucindale community members remember Sgt Doig as a “perfect country cop”. Picture: Supplied

“We’ll be working very closely with the family of Jason Doig and including, of course, SAPOL, to offer the most appropriate thing that we can as a government to mourn the loss of life of Jason,” Mr Szakacs said.

“But also to give the community and Jason’s family within their wishes an appropriate way to share our grief collectively.

“I don’t want to lose sight that this is a tragic incident where so many people are grieving.”

Mr Szakacs will spend the remainder of Saturday in the South-East “checking in” with the community, local police officers and Sgt Doig’s family.

“Not only is (Sgt Doig) being mourned as a tragic loss of life, but he was a friend, he was a community member and this is a tragic time,” Mr Szakacs said.

Members of the Lucindale Community described Sgt Doig as a “perfect country cop” and a “good, genuine community man”.

In the South-East, Mr Szakacs said the entire community was suffering.

“I’ve spoken to many people in the last day, day and a half, to express both government support but also understand this is having a profound impact on the whole community, not just police force,” he said.

“The loss of the life of a police officer at any time of course but through a heinous, violent act is always too much to bear.

“The types of tragedies, the trauma, police live every day are persistent and real.

“The events of yesterday morning were not remarkable in the sense this is the type of danger, this is the type of risk our brave police take every single day.

“And while the outcome here has been horrific, the type of risks, the type of operational response was not remarkable.

“From that perspective the police I have spoken with, what hits home pretty hard, is this could have happened at any time and could have happened to any one.

“But of course when the Commissioner of police is so profoundly impacted by tragedy as well, it certainly brings home just how traumatic this period is.”

On Saturday morning, Deputy Commissioner Linda Williams confirmed Sgt Hutchinson was in stable condition and was expected to be discharged from hospital at some point over the weekend.

Ms Williams also confirmed the status of the alleged shooter remained unchanged and was still in critical, life-threatening condition.