Qld police shootings: Premier in Chinchilla as funeral details revealed
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has laid flowers in honour of Queensland’s two slain police officers, as details of their memorial service are revealed.
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Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has visited Chinchilla police station, where she laid flowers in honour of murdered constables Rachel McCrow, 29, and Matthew Arnold, 26.
A week after the horror ambush at Wieambilla on the western Darling Downs – where innocent bystander Alan Dare also lost his life – Ms Palaszczuk spoke with staff at the local police station alongside Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll.
“Today was very important for me to come out and speak with the local police here on the ground and meet members of the public,” the Premier said.
“Everyone’s gone through a really rough time out here and I want all of Queensland and all of Australia to continue to show their support for the two young lives that were tragically taken.
Chinchilla Police Station. Vale. pic.twitter.com/fMhuQUWAj7
— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) December 19, 2022
“Today was an opportunity for me to come and show my respects on behalf of the state to the two young people who lost their lives in such an unimaginable way.”
Constables McCrow and Arnold and Mr Dare were shot dead at a Wieambilla property last week by brothers Nathaniel Train and Gareth Train, and Gareth’s wife Stacey Train.
Gareth was a doomsday conspiracy theorist with a hatred for police.
Constables McCrow and Arnold arrived at the property last Monday in two cars with their colleagues Constable Keely Brough and Constable Randall Kirk – who both managed to escape alive.
The Trains were later shot dead by police after a stand-off with specialist officers.
Premier @AnnastaciaMP & Police Commissioner @CoPCarroll are visiting the Chinchilla Police Station, laying flowers and speaking with local officers. This is the first time the Premier has been in town since Monday’s deadly ambush. @7NewsBrisbane#7NEWSpic.twitter.com/W0tBUhoVIj
— Sally Gyte (@SallyGyte) December 19, 2022
The funeral service for Constables McCrow and Arnold – who were based at Tara police station – will be held in Brisbane on Wednesday, which Ms Palaszczuk said would be a “very difficult day”.
Ms Palaszczuk was joined on Monday by Ms Carroll, who said there should be a review for a potential national firearms registry.
“I think there’s always opportunities and we should always be learning from incidents like this,” Ms Carroll said.
“And that conversation does need to happen.”
Ms Palaszczuk also said she wanted the issue raised at national cabinet.
“Anything we can do to tighten gun laws in this country would be a good thing,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
The fallen officers will be honoured with a memorial service on Wednesday.
The public memorial service will be held at 10am at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre in Boondall.
Superintendent Douglas McDonald said the two constables would be given a guard of honour after the service.
“Our aim is to make sure we honour our fallen officers with a highly dignified and fitting memorial,” he said.
“We want to recognise their sacrifice, honour their bravery and celebrate their lives.”
Supt McDonald said both Const McCrow and Arnold’s families would be involved in the planning of the public service, as well as the private ceremonies that would follow.
“We anticipate up to 8000 people will be in attendance,” Supt McDonald said.
“Tickets to the Boondall event will be available later today.”
The memorial service will be livestreamed on all major news stations.
With only 8000 tickets available, police officers will have priority access before seats are offered to the public.
Supt McDonald said a full list of viewing sites would be available on the Queensland Police Service website.
Memorial locations
The memorial service will be televised via channels 9, 7 and ABC News 24 from 9.30am.
It will also be livestreamed on the Queensland Police Service Facebook page.
Public locations where memorial will be televised.
Brisbane
King George Square, Brisbane City from 10am
Central District
The Alpha Town Hall, corner of Dryden and Tennyson streets, Alpha from 9.45am
Queensland Police Memorial at Cameron’s Corner (adjacent to Rockhampton Police Station) 161 Bolsover St, Rockhampton from 10am
Mackay District
Mackay Entertainment and Convention Centre, Alfred St, Mackay from 9.20am
PCYC Bowen, corner Hay St and Queens Rd, Bowen from 9.45am
South West District
Dalby Events Centre, 54 Nicholson St, from 10am
Chinchilla Country Hope Church, 3 Burbank St, from 10am
Tara Memorial Hall, Day St, from 10am
Miles William Miles Hall, Leichhardt Centre, 29 Dawson St, Miles from 10am
Townsville District
Townsville Stadium, 40-48 Murray Lyons Crescent, Annandale from 9.30am
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