Editorial: Police shooting tragedy a reminder of our everyday heroes

The sacrifice of constables Matthew Arnold and Rachel McCrow must never be forgotten, writes the editor.

Constables Matthew Arnold and Rachel McCrow were killed this week and (from top) Brett Forte, Damian Leeding and Brett Irwin.

To properly understand the true culture of the state’s police service, Queenslanders need look no further than the events that unfolded on Wains Rd at Wieambilla on Monday evening.

It was there that four young people who had just recently made the decision to dedicate their career in the service of others went to a property to follow up a missing persons tip from their colleagues across the border in NSW.

And it was there that these four brave young Queenslanders – constables Matthew Arnold, Rachel McCrow, Keely Brough and Randall Kirk – were ambushed and shot at by a small band of deluded cowards.

Constables Arnold and McCrow stood no chance and were gunned down almost immediately.

Constable Kirk was shot, but managed to escape with a bullet graze to his leg.

Constable Brough had to hide out on the property, sending what she believed would be her last text messages to loved ones as she was stalked like an animal before she too was able to escape.

Meanwhile, another example of the true culture of the police service was playing out as local colleagues raced at high speed to help, with no thought of the danger to themselves.

And then later we saw it again, when a group of 16 officers selflessly went into the shooting zone to retrieve the bullet-riddled bodies of constables Arnold and McCrow.

Why would they do this? The answer is simple. It is because that is what good coppers do: They turn up to work every day prepared to risk their lives to protect others. As their motto says, they serve with honour.

We truly owe a debt of gratitude to every single Queenslander who pulls on a blue uniform. And the events of Monday afternoon are just the latest reminder of that truth.

There is another relevant point worth making here, one you can see in the detail of the photos taken of the scene while the offenders were still armed and on the run – there were three ambulances parked on the side of the road alongside the police vehicles.

And standing beside those ambulances were paramedics in their green uniforms, armed with gloves and not guns – prepared to save whatever lives they would be called on to care for. It is a reminder of another debt we owe.

Hero is a word thrown about far too quickly. But in this case there is no doubt it is an entirely appropriate descriptor for all of those who ran towards rather than away from the danger at Wains Rd on Monday.

You are all heroes.

There has been a lot said in recent times about the rotten culture that permeates some parts of the police service. And rightly so. Those officers exposed by the commission of inquiry as serial misogynists deserve every sanction that has come – and is coming – their way.

But as we have said many times in this column, that does not mean all coppers are bad. In fact, all but a small few are good, honest people.

Two such souls were constables Arnold and McCrow, and their sacrifice must never be forgotten.

Their names will now be etched into our shared history alongside those of Brett Forte, Damian Leeding, Brett Irwin – and the other 145 brave police officers killed in the service of Queenslanders since 1859.

Now, that truth will do little to comfort the family and friends of these two young Queenslanders we lost on Monday afternoon.

But as a community, we owe their sacrifice nothing less. Lest we ever forget.

OUR GAMES IN SAFE HANDS

Queenslanders can finally be confident the planning of our 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games are in safe hands – with organising committee chairman Andrew Liveris unveiling Cindy Hook as the chief executive.

Like Mr Liveris, Ms Hook has the runs on the board as a high-level business executive to suggest she will do a great job leading the team that will deliver the greatest event on Earth to South East Queensland.

The American citizen whose last role running professional services firm Deloitte’s operations in the Asia-Pacific saw her lead 70,000 people across 19 nations is certainly no stranger to complex challenges.

And that is just as well, because the challenge of organising a Games is so complex and fraught that they literally make sitcoms about it.

There is therefore no doubt that The Courier-Mail’s coverage of Ms Hook’s endeavours will not always be rosy. But we wish her all the best as she embarks on the challenge – and recommit to our support of 2032 because of the opportunity for the building of a better Queensland.

Responsibility for election comment is taken by Chris Jones, corner of Mayne Rd & Campbell St, Bowen Hills, Qld 4006. Printed and published by NEWSQUEENSLAND (ACN 009 661 778). Contact details here