Wieambilla memorial: Distressing way sister of slain cop Matthew Arnold knew he was dead

Constable Matthew Arnold’s sister knew before anyone else that he had been murdered in the deadly Wieambilla ambush, thanks to a piece of technology that linked the siblings.

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The sister of Constable Matthew Arnold knew her brother had been murdered in the state’s most devastating police shooting before anyone else.

When calls and texts were not being answered, Hayley Arnold turned to her fitness watch where she and Constable Arnold shared their daily movements.

Her watch showed Constable Arnold was at a property in Wieambilla where they’d heard a police shooting had unfolded, but it showed her brother wasn’t moving.

She knew in her heart, despite not wanting to admit it, that her darling brother and triplet had been murdered.

The devastating admission has been revealed by Constable Arnold’s family who have spoken out alongside Constable Rachel McCrow’s family for the first time since the two dedicated officers were murdered in Wieambilla last year.

The Tara officers had responded to a call to attend the rural property with Chinchilla officers, Constable Keely Brough and Constable Randall Kirk on December 12.

Constable Rachel McCrow and Constable Matt Arnold. Source: Queensland Police Union.

Constable Arnold, 26, and Constable McCrow, 29, were killed in an ambush by Nathaniel, Gareth and Stacey Train as they walked down their driveway.

Their colleagues managed to escape, but neighbour Alan Dare was also shot and killed when he went to investigate.

The murders have now been deemed a religiously motivated terrorist attack and Queensland’s worst police shooting.

The family’s heart wrenching admissions have been shared in a commemorative edition of the Queensland Police Union Journal, edited by Darren Curtis, dedicated to the lives of Constable Arnold and Constable McCrow, where frank revelations of their life and final moments have been released.

Constable McCrow’s mum, Judy, revealed she was initially apprehensive when her daughter was posted to Tara.

“I wasn’t keen on her being there because we had heard these stories about people with guns out there and the whole time she was there that’s what I was worried about,” she said.

Constable Matt Arnold pictured with siblings Hayley and James. Source: Queensland Police Union.

Constable Arnold’s mother, Sue Arnold, says she remembers the moment their fears were confirmed when there was a knock at their door the day of the shootings.

“This is something I will never forget. I remember saying ‘no this cannot be right’, they were here to tell me Matt had been injured but it’s a nightmare with the opening of that door,” Mrs Arnold said.

His sister, Ms Arnold had tapped into his fitness watch to try to get some answers, but didn’t want to believe what she saw.

“His watch said he’d only walked 7000 steps that day and it showed he was not moving which was strange considering what was going on out there.

“I initially hoped it was a sync problem between his watch and phone and the towers, but every time I refreshed there were no more steps of activity.”

Nathaniel Train, Gareth Train and Stacey Train’s property, at Wains Road Wieambilla. Picture: Liam Kidston

Mrs Arnold says she still dreams about that day, reliving things over and over in her head.

“Since then I’ve had dreams that I was standing behind Matt watching him walk up the driveway and I was calling out to him to stop.

“But now the dreams are of opening the door and recalling the look on Inspector Mick Coulson’s face. That is what I dream of now.”

Constable Arnold and Constable McCrow were just starting to carve out the next phase of their careers before they were murdered.

Their boss, Tara officer-in-charge Sergeant Matthew Minz, said Constable McCrow had just signed on to become the Adopt a Cop for the local school and would have fit perfectly into domestic violence prevention or working with children.

“With the high-risk DV aggrieved, Rachel was creating a bond of trust between them and police,” he said.

Constable Matt Arnold pictured with siblings Hayley and James as children. Source: Queensland Police Union.

But the duo had a playful side, and the day before their deaths had wrapped Sergeant Minz’s desk in Christmas paper.

They never got to see his reaction to their prank, and he couldn’t bring himself to take the paper off for weeks.

“They wrapped literally everything, the desk, computer, keyboard, mousepad. You name it, it had wrapping on it.

“I kept the wrapping on for probably a month afterwards, I just couldn’t take it off.”

Constable Arnold’s Ford Ranger was packed the day he died as he also prepared for a new chapter in his career.

He was ready to leave Tara with his dog, Tana, for a Christmas break before saying goodbye to the small town for good and heading to Logan for a stint in the child protection unit.

But instead, his family’s Christmas was spent gathered around his grave with his favourite baked ham, like they will now do for every holiday and birthday for the rest of their lives.

His parents haven’t been able to part with his Ranger as the interior still holds a lingering smell that reminds them of Constable Arnold.

The memorial service with full police honours for our fallen colleagues Constable Rachel McCrow and Constable Matthew Arnold at the Brisbane Entertainment Centreon December 21. Picture: Steve Pohlner

“He had maybe five days left in Tara and he had decided if he loved child protection that would be where he would head next,” Mrs Arnold said.

“Matt openly admitted his time at Dalby and Tara taught him how to be a police officer.”

Constable McCrow’s family said her memory would live on in her blue heeler, Archie, who slept in front of Rachel’s photo.

“Archie is so very special for us now, he’s our memory. We spend so much time throwing the ball for him and giving him cuddles all the time.”

Murdered constables Matthew Arnold and Rachel McCrow. Photo Steve Pohlner