Townsville Police gather for memorial honouring two colleagues who were murdered at Wieambilla
Townsville’s policing community has gathered for an emotion-charged memorial honouring two colleagues who were gunned down in a shocking ambush earlier this week.
Townsville
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With its flags at half mast, a solemn silence hung over the courtyard of the Townsville Police Station as the policing fraternity gathered to pay tribute to two comrades who were gunned down in a shocking ambush.
Tears were shed and emotions ran high as dozens of downcast officers braved the oppressive heat on Wednesday to attend a memorial service honour Constable Rachel McCrow, 29, Constable Matthew Arnold, 26, and their surviving colleagues Constable Randall Kirk and Constable Keely Brough.
It followed a confrontation on Monday afternoon where the four police officers, all aged in their 20s, walked into an ambush at a Wieambilla property on the western Darling Downs.
They had been looking for disgruntled former school principal Nathaniel Train, 46, who had been reported missing from the NSW town of Dubbo.
Constable McCrow and Constable Arnold were murdered, Constable Kirk was wounded, and neighbour Alan Dare was killed, after what was expected to be a routine policing inquiry.
Nathaniel Train, his conspiracy theorist brother Gareth Train, 47 and Gareth’s wife Stacey Train, 45, were killed in subsequent shootout with the Special Emergency Response Team.
During the memorial ceremony, there was a minute of silence, a candle of remembrance was lit, before Police Chaplain Glenn Louttit offered a heartfelt tribute, and Townsville District Acting-Superintendent Dean Cavanagh read the Police Ode.
Acting-Chief Superintendent of the Townsville District John Hallam spoke highly of the officers who died in the line of duty, and of the impact their deaths had on the police force.
“It’s been a very sad time for the police, not only in this district, but across the state as we struggle to understand how this could occur,” Superintendent Hallam said.
“It’s been really important that we come together as one to support each other and also as an opportunity to bring the community together to recognise the support they have shown to the police, not only in this district, but across the state since that tragedy occurred.”
He said former-Rockhampton resident Constable McCrow’s death had hit particularly hard given her volunteer work in the local community and the “great potential” she showed after graduating with top marks from the Townsville Police Academy in June 2021.
“She was awarded the Community Leadership Award as part of her recruiting intake. She worked very closely with disadvantaged youth across Townsville and assisted them in a learner driver program to help them get their driver’s licence, which would open up a whole lot more opportunities for young people,” Superintendent Hallam.
He expressed his gratitude for the outpouring of support from the community, saying police stations across the state had been inundated with messages of support, small gifts, cakes, and flowers.
“Which really demonstrates to my officers and the officers from across the state that we had the support of the community and the community is grieving with us at this time,” the superintendent said.
The distressing incident, which was the second deadly ambush of Queensland police officers in the past five years, highlighted the risks frontline officers faced every day.
“Every day (police officers) go to work and say goodbye to their family. They may not make it home and that is the reality of policing in the 21st century,” he said.
Originally published as Townsville Police gather for memorial honouring two colleagues who were murdered at Wieambilla
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