“I froze for 10 years”: Police widow wants more respect for officers on Police Remembrance Day

Jacqueline Goodwin’s life was stalled tragically when her husband was killed on duty in Brisbane’s southwest. As Police Remembrance Day falls, she wants more respect for the risk officers take every day.

Commissioner Katarina Carroll and Jacqueline Goodwin at the National Police Remembrance Day, Brisbane Botanical Gardens. Picture: Liam Kidston

Jacqueline Goodwin’s life was turned upside down when she became a police officer’s widow aged in her very early 20s.

With two kids under 14 months old at the time of her husband’s death, the wife of late Queensland Police Constable Mark Goodwin was forced to raise their two baby girls alone.

For Ms Goodwin, National Police Remembrance Day pays homage to her late husband and serves as a reminder for the rest of the community to treat members of our police service with the respect they deserve.

“On this day I believe all of us should take the time to respect these people as if they were going into a place of war on our behalf within our community,” Ms Goodwin said.

“As a widow now for thirty years, I don't believe the greater community could understand the amount of sheer terror that these gentlemen and women have to confront on a daily basis.

“Their job is not merely a job, it’s a vocation and it becomes a lifestyle that actually implodes at times.”

Jacqueline Goodwin, widow of Constable Mark Goodwin, at National Police Remembrance Day, Brisbane Botanical Gardens. Picture: Liam Kidston

On September 29 every year, the lives of fallen police officers are honoured across the country.

This year, Queensland honours the lives of the 148 Queensland officers who have died as a consequence of their duty, including Constable Goodwin, who died 30 years ago in a single-vehicle crash on the Centenary Highway at Jamboree Heights while involved in a search for eight dangerous escaped prisoners.

Mark Goodwin was killed while on duty in 1991. Picture: Queensland Police Service

Also honoured this year – the newest name added to the memorial – Senior Constable Dave Masters.

Senior Constable Masters was fatally struck by an allegedly stolen car as he attempted to deploy tyre spikes on the Bruce Hwy in Burpengary earlier this year.

Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll said National Police Remembrance Day was the most important day on the police calendar. 

“This year is particularly significant because we lost David Masters in June,” she said.

“We reflect on what really is an incredibly sad day, but also an incredibly important day. I particularly just want to remember today – the fallen officers and the sacrifice that they made for their community.”

Ms Goodwin said she grieves for all fallen officers, and cried for Senior Constable Masters and his family.

“I grieved for three days … And I actually cried,” Ms Goodwin said.

Senior Constable David Masters was killed while trying to stop an allegedly stolen car. Picture Queensland Police Service.

“I did pray for the family. Anytime a police officer falls within Australia, I go through the whole process … it’s almost like retracing the steps that I went through when I lost Mark.”

Ms Goodwin said after her husband’s death, she had to learn to let go of her expectations on what her life would be.

Her idea of early marriage and of creating a life with her new husband and young children was completely torn apart.

“I was married and had two babies all within 22 months, then Mark was killed.

“I basically think I froze for 10 years and my children had to kind of navigate a lot of things on their own, and that gives me kind of another instalment of grief that I still have to deal with.”

Her two daughters, aged just three months and 14 months at the time of Constable Goodwin’s death, never got to grow up with the father, and instead have learned about their dad through Ms Goodwin.

“My girls are very strong people and they’re very independent people,” Ms Goodwin said.

“In a lot of ways they’re probably more focused than I was, and it’s only now that I’m being born into who I am …”

Jacqueline Goodwin and Police Minister Mark Ryan at National Police Remembrance Day. Picture: Liam Kidston

Police Minister Mark Ryan said National Police Remembrance Day was about showing support to the loved ones of fallen police officers.

“We’re here to support them, that we will always remember their loved ones and that we’re here to honour their service that they provide to us all, to the people of Queensland,” he said.

Ms Goodwin said the day was also important for the community to remember the current serving police officers as well.

“As a community, (it’s important) for police to understand that they’re respected and that they need to be honoured all the time.”