Tara residents mourn constables Rachel McCrow, Matthew Arnold

Darling Downs residents are struggling to come to terms with how two of their police officers were brutally murdered.

Darling Down residents are coming together in their grief to pay respects to the two police officers who were mercilessly killed on Monday.

Constable Rachel McCrow, 29, and Constable Matthew Arnold, 26, were murdered during the execution-style ambush after attending a rural property on Wains Rd in Wieambilla.

The two officers had quickly become a part of the Tara community, with Constable McCrow working as school liaison officer in the town.

The Tara-based officers were conducting a welfare check at the property alongside their Chinchilla colleagues, constables Randall Kirk and Keely Brough.

Flags fly at half mast at the Chinchilla Botanical Gardens in honour of constables Rachel McCrow and Matthew Arnold, who were murdered in cold blood 30 minutes southwest of the town. Picture: David Clark NCA/NewsWire

Constables Arnold and McCrow were shot dead at close range by three assailants, who stole their service weapons.

Meanwhile, Constable Kirk, who was shot in the leg, was able to escape in a police vehicle to call for help.

Constable Brough fled into the bush where she waited for help thinking she would die while the three assailants shot bullets into the trees and lit fires to flush her out.

Tara resident Rachael Buckman, who works at Chinchilla Aquatic and Fitness Centre, said the loss of the two officers had hit her town hard.

Ms Buckman told NCA NewsWire she had known Constable McCrow through her child’s school because she worked as the town’s school liaison officer.

“She used to go to the Catholic school, the public school and the daycare to show them her car and things like that,” Ms Buckman said.

Constable Rachel McCrow was murdered in cold blood on Monday by camoflauge-clad gunmen, during a visit to a property at Wieambilla, south of Chinchilla. Picture: Supplied

She said her daughter loved seeing the police around town because she felt safe and thought of them as friends.

“I used to see them in the shopping centre and (Matthew) used to say hello,” Ms Buckman said.

“What I’ve gathered from all the locals, everyone absolutely loved her and him.

“They never had a problem, always nice and friendly.

“I feel sorry for everyone involved.

“I’m just shocked it happened so close to home.”

Tara resident Rachael Buckman knew both police officers that were killed and says it’s going to take a long time for the community to come to terms with the tragedy. Picture: David Clark NCA/NewsWire

Tara Shire State College and St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School paid tribute on social media to the officers from their town.

“Constable Matthew Arnold and Constable Rachel McCrow’s dedication and commitment to our students, staff, P & C and wider college community was outstanding and appreciated,” Tara Shire State College wrote.

St Joseph’s also extended “thoughts and prayers” on social media “to all affected by the shooting event that occurred yesterday, especially to the families who have lost loved ones”.

Ms Buckman said she never expected the horrible events from Monday to unfold in “such a small community where they’re all very close-knit”.

“The towns around here are very community orientated,” she said.

“I think the community has taken a big hit, but I’m also super glad to see everyone banding together to support the community and the police officers.”

Constable Matthew Arnold, 26, was an active member of Tara community, with residents saying he’ll be sorely missed after being killed on Monday. Picture: Supplied

Ms Buckman said she hoped a memorial bench would be installed to allow the community to continue to grieve.

Meanwhile, Chinchilla Florist owner Erin Ford told NCA NewsWire that she was swept off her feet with orders, as residents far and wide wanted to pay their respects to the police.

Chinchilla florist Erin Ford arrives with flowers honouring the two police officers. Picture: David Clark NCA/NewsWire

Ms Ford said she’d ordered extra flowers to cope with the demand, including “hardier flowers” like gerberas, chrysanthemums, carnations and natives that will last a little longer in the sun.

“It goes to show how grateful everyone is for their service,” she said.

“I picked up another lot this morning and I’ve got people dropping another lot off from Toowoomba this afternoon.

“I’ve taken orders for Tara and I’ll do a bulk run over there this afternoon.

“I’ve ordered two boxes extra that I wouldn’t have ordered.

“I’ll put in an order tomorrow to fill orders that I’ve already got, so no doubt there will be an extra box in that.”

Flowers have been placed outside at Chinchilla Police Station as the community comes to terms with the terrible events from Monday when two officers were killed in cold blood. Picture: David Clark NCA/NewsWire

Ms Ford said the entire town was rocked by the tragedy, and she felt the whole incident was just “surreal”.

“It’s just gut-wrenching to think about what happened,” she said.

“It’s almost surreal, like watching a bad movie.

Originally published as Tara residents mourn constables Rachel McCrow, Matthew Arnold