With honour they served: Memorial for fallen constables held in Townsville

A memorial service honouring fallen police constables Rachel McCrow and Matthew Arnold vowed a grieving police force will remain ‘unbroken’ after their tragic deaths. Watch the video.

Grieving members of the Townsville Police District have come together to farewell two of their fallen brethren for the final time.

Constables McCrow, 29 and Arnold, 26, were murdered on December 12 while undertaking a routine inquiry at a Wieambilla property on Monday, December 12.

Constable McCrow was a 2021 graduate of the Townsville Police Academy.

Acting Chief Superintendent John Hallam said it had been a ‘very hard couple of weeks’ for the local police force, many of whom had known McCrow and flew south to be in Brisbane beside her family during the service earlier today.

“The officers are suffering, but I’m really proud to say that everyday they’ve put on those blue shirts and gone out proudly and served their community,” Chief Superintendent Hallam said.

The police memorial service in Townsville for constables Rachel McCrow and Matthew Arnold. Acting Superintendent John Hallam speaks to the media.

A crowd of almost 200 gathered at Townsville Stadium, including members of the public, Australian Defence Force personnel, State Emergency Service personnel, emergency services and police officers.

“It’s very overwhelming to see the support here today,” Chief Superintendent Hallam said.

“Not only having all the emergency services and the ADF here, but also the community as well, it makes our officers realise that we don’t stand alone, and we have the community’s support.”

The police memorial service in Townsville for constables Rachel McCrow and Matthew Arnold.

Members of the police force struggled to hold back tears as the two fallen officers were remembered eulogised as positive, optimistic members of their fraternity.

During the livestreamed service held at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Constable Freddy Hartigan, also a graduate of the Townsville Police Academy, gave a moving tribute to “beautiful, strong and intelligent” Rachel McCrow.

“(You were) a copper who will fight to protect the ones she has sworn to serve,” Constable Hartigan said.

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“The blue family is forever here with you,

“Rach, you will forever mean so much to us … we are struggling, Rach, but will continue to tell your story.

“ … So we will keep telling of your dedication, keep telling of your laughter, keep telling of your warmth, and telling of the honour (in which) you served.”

Constable Rachel McCrow, and Constable Matthew Arnold, were gunned down at the property in the western Darling Downs, about three hours west of Brisbane.

Constable McCrow, who graduated from the Queensland Police Academy in June of 2021, and Constable Arnold were both posthumously awarded several honours in recognition of their service.

They both received the National Police Service Award, Queensland Police Service Award and the Queensland Police Valour Medal.

Member for Mundingburra, Les Walker, State Member for Townsville Scott Stewart, State Member for Thuringowa, and Federal Member for Herbert Phillip Thompson were among those who attended the service.

A memorial service honouring fallen police constables Rachel McCrow and Matthew Arnold was held in Townsville on December 21.

Constables Randall Kirk and Keely Brough had also attended the house of Gareth and Stacey Train, with Constable McCrow and Arnold, in order to ask after Gareth’s missing brother Nathaniel.

Nathaniel had been reported missing in New South Wales and was a former principal who spent time working in North Queensland.

Constables McCrow and Arnold were fatally shot by the Trains, with Constables Kirk and Brough injured but able to escape.

The service was attended by state and federal MPs.

Alan Dare, a neighbour of the Trains, was also murdered when he came to check out a fire set by the Trains to force Constable Brough out of the scrub she was hiding in.

He will have a memorial on Friday, where he will be farewelled by a cortege of classic Fords, his favourite.

The Trains were later shot and killed in police firefight.

Originally published as With honour they served: Memorial for fallen constables held in Townsville