Imbil police officer Bill Greer speaks about Wieambilla murders

One of the Gympie region’s most respected and senior police officers has opened up about the horrific events at Wieambilla where two officers and a neighbour were murdered in cold blood, saying it ‘hits home’ for everyone.

Imbil police station officer in charge Sergeant Bill Greer (inset) has opened up about the horrific events at Wiembilla where two officers and a civilian were murdered in cold blood, while Gympie's police station is flying flags at half mast and bouquets have been placed outside.

Flags at police stations across the region were flying at half mast on Tuesday after two young police officers were executed in cold blood on the Western Downs near Tara.

The Mary Valley’s 20-year veteran of the police service said the horrific execution-style ambush and murder of the police officers and a member of the public on a “relatively routine job” on Monday afternoon “hits home to everyone”.

Imbil Police officer in charge Sergeant Bill Greer said the events at Wieambilla on the Darling Downs Monday evening left officers across the region “sombre”.

Constable Rachel McCrow, 29, and Constable Matthew Arnold, 26, were murdered at the property south of Chinchilla, about 4.40pm Monday.

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Alan Dare, who lived at a neighbouring property, was also killed by the gunmen.

Two other officers, Constable Keeley Brough and Constable Randall Kirk, both aged 28, escaped the ambush.

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Gympie police station flags at half mast and bouquets of flowers had been placed out the front following the tragic events at the Darling Downs on Monday, where two officers and a member of the public were murdered by armed gunmen.

Constable Kirk was shot in the leg, and Constable Brough was pursued into bushland by the gunmen.

They then reportedly started a bushfire in an effort to force her out; she was rescued by a team of 16 officers sent in to extract her.

Three suspects, Gareth Train, his brother Nathaniel, a former Queensland school principal, and a woman, were killed in a police firefight late Monday night.

The flags at Gympie Police Station were flying at half mast on Tuesday, in the wake of the tragic events.

Several bouquets of flowers had been placed at the foot of the station’s sign, as the community tries to grapple with the sheer horror or what had taken place.

Sgt Greer said he had nothing to compare the events to in his 21-year career with the service.

Imbil police station officer in charge Sergeant Bill Greer said the murdered officers had been on a “relatively routine job” and the horrific events reinforced the risks involved with working in the service.

“I have never come across anything so random,” Sgt Greer said.

He said it was a “relatively routine job” for officers, responding to a New South Wales police request about a missing person, and something which reinforced the dangers of the job.

“We go to these rural places, often alone,” Sgt Greer said.

“It can happen at any job and at any time.

He said the mood among officers Tuesday morning was “sombre”.

There had been a lot of “chatter” overnight while the situation had been unfolding, Sgt Greer said, and “it hits home to everyone, in the police or not”.

“It can happen at any job, at any time,” he said.

Two police officers and the resident of a nearby property were murdered at a property at Wieambilla, south of Chinchilla, about 4.40pm Monday. Picture Harry Clarke/Country Caller

Sgt Greer said he had spoken with his own officers following the devastating tragedy.

“The conversation is around safety, being mindful, having back-up, having radios,” he said.

“The police family is a small family.

“Guaranteed it’s going to be in our minds.”

Gympie police officer in charge Senior Sergeant Gregg Davey said officers and staff at the Gympie station were “devastated”, and Monday’s events reinforced the dangers inherent in the job.

“There are not many jobs in Australia where the risk of being murdered at work exists – policing is one of them,” Sergeant Davey said.

“The tragedy at Wieambilla highlights the dangerous profession that policing is.

Gympie police officer in charge Senior Sergeant Gregg Davey said the horrific events at Wieambilla “highlights the dangerous profession that policing is”.

“The tragic loss to the immediate families is something that no one can measure and will reverberate through those families and the police family for many many years.

“The impact on the officers who survived the initial attack is also something that cannot be measured and our hearts go out to them.

“It is the old cliche but true – we joined this job to serve and protect and make our community a safer place – we will continue to do this.

“A tragedy like this will only increase this resolve.”

Sergeant Davey thanked the Gympie community and the support if had showed in the wake of the horrific tragedy.

“Gympie community members have dropped off flowers, condolence and thank-you cards as well as snacks to the Station this morning and this means a lot to the women and men serving at Gympie,” Mr Davey said.

Mayor Glen Hartwig, a former police officer, expressed his condolences to the “families, friends and colleagues of Constable Rachel McCrow, Constable Matthew Arnold and member of the public Alan Dare who tragically had their lives taken at Wieambilla yesterday”.

“This time of year is one of happiness for many families across Australia, however for the families involved in this tragic event, it will be reminder of three lives tragically cut short,” Mr Hartwig said.

“Now is a good time to show your appreciation for the work Queensland Police Service Officers do for our community.

“If you see an officer, make sure to wish them a Merry Christmas, a simple thank you or good job.”