‘This is not who we are’: Tara Police Station on rotation as community recovers from ‘stigma’ of shooting

As the Tara community continues to grapple with a shocking act of terrorism that cost the lives of three people, including two police officers, the town is struggling to re-establish a “permanent” policing presence.

The Queensland police station that lost two officers in a deadly shootout has struggled to re-establish a “permanent” policing presence as the town’s community continues to grapple with the aftermath of the tragedy.

Tara Police Station has had officers from other districts assisting operations on a rotational basis after the murders of constables Matthew Arnold, 26, and Rachel McCrow, 29, along with hero neighbour Alan Dare on December 12. The “religiously motivated terrorist attack” was carried out by Gareth, Stacey and Nathaniel Train on their remote Wieambilla property.

Gareth and Stacey Train.

Member for Warrego Ann Leahy said Tara Police Station had struggled to hold on to permanent officers even before the loss of constables Arnold and McCrow amid ongoing recruitment issues.

Tara Police Station. Picture: Liam Kidston

She said Sergeant Matthew “Minzy” Minz was the officer in charge at Tara Police Station when Constables McCrow and Arnold were tasked to Wieambilla.

“Minzy is a very strong individual, he’s still got that oversight for those rotational police coming through … but I think it’s going to take time for things to settle there,” she said.

“I’ve lost five police officers between 2015 and 2022 … the recruitment rate is so slow that it will be 30 years before (the government) delivers.”

A Queensland Police Service spokesman confirmed that policing services to the Tara community “continue to be maintained at sustainable operational levels with assistance from other districts and regions on a rotational basis” with a goal to re-establish “permanent policing presence”.

Paster Ron Evans holding his Bible with his wife Edna Evans on their block outside of Tara. Picture: Liam Kidston

“The QPS, like any organisation, experiences movement and changes in employees as people are impacted or successfully seek transfers or promotions; and each region has the discretion and flexibility to move resources around as demand dictates,” he said.

Meanwhile, local Tara businesses and long-term residents say they refuse to be “defeated” by the tragic incident as the community also continues to be plagued by youth crime and deliberately lit bushfires.

The Train property where the shooting took place. Picture: Liam Kidston

A month on from the Wieambilla shooting, the main strip of Tara was shut down when four local teenagers allegedly fired multiple rounds at parked cars.

Long-term Tara resident Allan Bougoure said there was now a stigma from “out of towners” that if they visit the area they could be shot.

“Tara hasn’t changed. Just because people were shot, and a couple of kids fired a rifle down the street,” Mr Bougoure said.

Long time Tara resident Allan Bougoure, Tara. Picture: Liam Kidston

Mr Bougoure said once the attack was labelled terrorism, the town “closed ranks” and completely “dissociated” themselves with the Trains, who he said were never considered locals.

“It’s like anywhere you go. 90 per cent are good people, 10 per cent won’t be,” he said.

“How do you take that step from where you are a functioning member of society to capable of shooting three people and more if you could have?

“They are not us, that’s not who we are.”

Tara Community Church pastor Ron Evans and his wife Edna Evans, who are self-confessed “blockies”, said the town was “sick of going from one catastrophe to next one”.

“It is really hard to understand how the Trains were supposedly religious,” Mrs Evans said.

Commercial Hotel owner Owen Brauer, Tara. Picture: Liam Kidston

“(The Trains) may have known the word of God but then they take on something else.

“You have got to be very careful that people don’t blindly follow you in case you go off the tracks.”

Deputy Police Commissioner Tracy Linford previously said an extensive investigation found the Trains subscribed to Premillennialism – they believed Christ would return to earth for a period of 1000 years after a period of widespread destruction.

Mrs Evans said premillennialists “interpret” the bible but that “there’s never ever an option of disobeying the law”.

“Nothing in the bible teaches you to stand and fight in the physical realm,” he said.

Town of Tara. Picture: Liam Kidston

Asked whether they forgave the Trains, Mrs Evans said “absolutely … and had we met them, we would have talked with them, helped them … that is not a thing that you hold against anyone”.

Commercial Hotel Tara owner Owen Brauer said the shooting at Wieambilla was not a “true reflection of the town”.

“Tara is a friendly place. Everyone gets to know each other pretty quick,” he said.

“Ninety per cent of our customers are work-related.

“Tara is not a real tourist destination.”