‘It does hit home’: Fallen Brisbane officer remembered by Fraser Coast police

Fraser Coast police stood outside their stations in a show of respect to a fallen officer yesterday.

Fraser Coast police have stood outside their stations in a show of respect to a fallen officer on Friday.

They joined with thousands of other officers who took a moment to pay respect to Senior Constable David Masters on Friday, July 9, at 12.15pm, ahead of his funeral held on the same day.

The 53-year-old Senior Constable from Deception Bay was killed in an alleged hit-and-run on the Bruce Highway north of Brisbane in the early hours of June 26, while he was laying road spikes to stop a stolen car.

Slain police officer Senior Constable David (Dave) Masters with his beloved troop horse Manny at the QMPU in 2018. Pic supplied.

Maryborough Patrol Group Acting Patrol Inspector Brooke Flood told the Chronicle the Hervey Bay Police Station gathered all officers and staff members to “show respect” to Senior Constable Masters.

“We had a minute‘s silence in front of our flag,” she said.

“Generally, we would have a large funeral but (due to Covid) unfortunately, that won‘t be happening.”

Despite Dave being a Brisbane officer, Sgt Flood said the death has had a massive impact on local officers.

“Any police officer dying has severe ramifications on the rest of the organisation, we are bonded very closely as police officers ... whether we know them personally or not,” she told the Chronicle.

“We all know that a police officer being murdered in that way could happen to any of us, I guess it‘s a bit of a reality check as well to us because we don’t have high death among police officers, but you know ... that could have been any police officer anywhere.

“It does hit home and make you appreciate how dangerous our job can be.”

One hundred people gathered for the service today at Burpengary, north of Brisbane, and more honoured Senior Constable Masters via livestream, unable to attend because of COVID-19 restrictions.