‘Not a priority’: Why lone councillor voted against memorial for police dog

The councillor voted against exploring options for a memorial to Rambo, saying “I just wonder whether our priority ought to be a memorial for a dog”: Here’s his reasoning why.

Sergeant Ian Grigoris with Rambo. Photo: Robyne Cuerel / Fraser Coast Chronicle

A councillor has voted against the Fraser Coast Regional Council investigating options to create memorial for a police dog that died in the line of duty earlier this week, despite a groundswell of support from the community.

The motion, moved by Councillor Paul Truscott at Wednesday’s meeting, asked that the council be provided a report with possible options to memorialise Rambo, in consultation with the police force.

Rambo was killed after being hit by a car on the Bruce Highway while pursuing convicted murder Alan Lace, who ran from police at Maryborough West in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Suggestions were made during the meeting that naming a dog park after Rambo or creating a memorial plaque might be fitting.

Councillor Denis Chapman said a statue of Rambo near the police station could be a possibility.

He said a community Go Fund Me page for the memorial would likely be well supported by a the public.

“He was such a beautiful big dog,” he said, adding he would be in favour of a life-size statue.

“It’s up to the officers to bring a report back.”

But Councillor David Lewis said he was against the council exploring options to memorialise the dog.

FCRC: Councillor David Lewis. Photo: Stuart Fast

He said a police officer who had been killed in the line of duty the region some years ago had never been memorialised, and nor had victims of domestic violence on the Fraser Coast.

“I don’t see this as a priority in the circumstances,” he said.

“Notwithstanding the public may naturally have reacted to the death of the dog, I wonder whether council should be putting its time and energy, not to say its money, into this kind of memorial in the context of all the various issues and the various sacrifices we could memorialise.

“I just wonder whether our priority ought to be a memorial for a dog.”

He said that didn’t mean he didn’t value police or police dogs and their service to the community.

He said it may be that there could be a small memorial for the dog if the council was approached by police.

Cr Truscott said he wanted to work with police to see what they thought would be appropriate to memorialise Rambo.

He said there appeared to be an “incredible groundswell of support” from the public.

The motion was passed 10-1, with Cr Lewis voting against it.

Speaking to the media earlier on Wednesday, Detective Senior Sergeant Dave Harbison said the police would welcome a memorial for Rambo.

“It’s a moving gesture,” he said.

“Anything we can do would be a great gesture.”

Snr Sgt Harbison said the loss of the dog hurt all officers, especially Rambo’s handler, Sergeant Ian Grigoris.

“He’s obviously upset at the loss of his dog,” Snr Sgt Harbison said.