Survivor of police shooting Keely Brough attends Chinchilla vigil for victims
The policewoman who survived Monday’s horror slaying of two of her fellow officers has attended a candlelight vigil. PHOTOS | VIDEO
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A police constable who survived a terrifying ordeal hiding in the bush from an armed trio who killed two officers and injured another has paid tribute to her fallen colleagues and a neighbour killed in the fatal ambush.
A visibly shaken Constable Keely Brough did not speak at the vigil and was hugged by Assistant Commissioner Charysse Pond as she arrived.
The 28-year-old, who was at times in tears, stood at the back of the service, flanked by officers, wearing dark glasses even after the sun had set.
Const Brough on Monday texted her family and police as she spent 90 harrowing minutes hiding in bushland, being hunted by Gareth, Nathaniel and Stacey Train, who shot at her and lit fires to flush her out.
Constables Rachel McCrow and Matthew Arnold and neighbour Alan Dare were killed at the Wieambilla property.
Constable Randall Kirk was shot in the leg and managed to escape in a police vehicle to raise the alarm.
Close to 400 gathered at Illoura Village in Chinchilla, laying flowers and lighting candles.
Louise Keating, a Chinchilla resident of 11 years, said the senseless shooting had rocked the community.
“I think it’ll be a healing process … it’s been a pretty traumatic week,” she said
Ex-police officer Bob Britton and his wife Dee were visibly moved at the gathering.
“From the perspective of being a former police officer... having been in situations where you just don’t know what’s going to happen... this is the worst-case scenario,” he said.
“These guys have paid the ultimate price for doing something that needs to be done.
“My heart just goes out to them and the whole of the police force statewide … it’s a horrible thing.”
Residents in Tara and Chinchilla say they plan to raise money for the families of the three victims and a memorial will be built in the near future.
A crowd of more than 400 attended Friday evening’s event at Illoura Village, talking through the past week, sharing food, swapping stories and buying raffle tickets to support the loved ones of constables Arnold and McCrow and Mr Dare.
Ms Pond laid flowers at the flagpole before reading out a touching message to the crowd on behalf of the Arnold family.
“We thank the public for their outpouring of grief and messages of support,” she read
“The love and respect shown to Matt, our son and brother is truly overwhelming and humbling.
“To hear people share stories about Matt at work and the affection your community had for Matt is heartwarming.
“We can never thank the South West region enough for their love and support they have shown to us, the McCrow and Dare families.
“We thank the police officers and first responders in Tara, Chinchilla and Dalby who showed enormous bravery in making sure our Matthew was able to be returned to us in Brisbane.”
As darkness fell, candles were lit in honour of the fallen.
Earlier, Brett Hovey, the organiser of a GoFundMe which raised more than $76,000 for Mr Dare’s widow Kerry said he wanted her to have something to help her “carry on”.
“She’s finding it very tough,” he said
“It was great to be able to set it up and the response has just been overwhelming.”
Louise Keating, a Chinchilla resident of 11 years and her son, Beau Buckley were also there.
She said the senseless shooting ambush at Wieambilla this week had “definitely rocked the community”.
“I think it’ll be a healing process … it’s been a pretty traumatic week,” Ms Keating said
“It’s shocking, obviously.
“We’re here to buy raffle tickets and support the cause, it’s our way of contributing”
Chinchilla’s Kerry Boske was at the vigil with his whole family, doing their bit for “community spirit”.
He said he was “devastated” when he heard the news as Chinchilla was “vibrant little place” which needed support.
“(This) shouldn’t happen in a small community like this … shouldn’t happen anywhere,” he said
“When you walk down the street you think you know people but apparently there’s people you don’t know … what their motives are … it’s very scary.”
Alongside him was Bob Britton, an ex-cop who together with wife Dee, was visibly moved.
“From the perspective of being a former police officer … having been in situations where you just don’t know what’s going to happen … this is the worst-case scenario.
“These guys have paid the ultimate price for doing something that needs to be done.
“My heart just goes out to them and the whole of the police force statewide … it’s a horrible thing.”
Candles were being lit at dark.
A simultaneous vigil was also being held at Tara.
Gareth Train and his brother Nathaniel opened fire on the two constables and two of their colleagues soon after they arrived at the remote property, gunning the two officers down from hidden vantage points.
As the gunfire continued from the scrub, Constable Randall Kirk and Constable Keely Brough ran on each side of a dirt road on the property, in opposite directions.
On hearing the gunshots and smoke coming from a bushfire lit to try and force Constable Brough out of hiding, Mr Dare was also shot and killed.
After a prolonged stand-off and shootout with police the Trains were killed by specialist police.
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