Gold Coast Senior Sergeant Brendan Wiblen and Detective Senior Constable Damian Leeding honoured on National Police Remembrance Day
Gold Coast police officers have gathered to pay their respects to their fallen colleagues in a heartfelt service for National Police Remembrance Day. This year was particularly poignant.
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Police officers from across the Gold Coast and Logan have paid tribute to their fallen colleagues in a church service to mark National Police Remembrance Day.
Hundreds gathered at Highway Church in Ormeau on Friday morning for one of 40 events across the state giving current and former police officers, as well as their family and friends, an opportunity to come together and pay their respects.
“It’s a day when we stop and honour the service of our members who lost their lives in the line of duty,” South Eastern Region Assistant Commissioner Brian Swan said.
“We reflect on the role of police in keeping our community safe.”
AC Swann said this year’s national day of mourning was “particularly significant” for staff following the sudden and tragic death of Gold Coast Senior Sergeant Brendan Wiblen in a motorcycle crash just over a fortnight ago.
“Brendan was a much loved, highly respected and extremely professional district duty officer here on the Gold Coast and he will be sorely missed,” AC Swan said.
“We’ll take that opportunity to pause and reflect on Brendan’s service for the Gold Coast community.”
A veteran police officer with decades of service on the frontline, news of Senior Sergeant Wiblen’s passing on September 11 sent a wave of sadness across the police family.
The 58-year-old was taking part in the annual Wall to Wall Ride for Remembrance, honouring fallen police officers, when his motor bike crashed at Glenn Innes in the New South Wales Northern Tablelands. Just hours earlier he had set-off from Brisbane with other riders on the three-day trip to Canberra.
Devastated and shocked colleagues described Senior Sergeant Wiblen as a “leader” who stood up for his fellow officers.
“Intelligent, kind, with a mischievous sense of humour. It’s what made him a respected officer with the rank and file, and management” a close police colleague said.
“When the proverbial would hit the fan, he was the calm and considered cop tasked with making split-second decisions, at times when the consequences couldn’t have been greater.”
Senior Sergeant Wiblen had completed the Wall to Wall ride many times, including in 2023 when he was joined by his son Liam Wiblen.
He had taken part in the memorial ride in honour of his mate and former Gold Coast Detective Senior Constable Damian Leeding who was fatally shot by an offender in 2011, having responded to an armed robbery call-out at the Pacific Pines Tavern.
Colleagues of Senior Constable Leeding also took time to rember his sacrifice on National Police Remembrance Day.
Also front of mind for officers across the state were constables Rachel McCrow and Matthew Arnold, killed in a deadly ambush at Wiembilla in December 2022.
“Police is a very difficult career,” Gold Coast Chief Superintendent Craig Hanlon said, paying respects to his fallen colleagues on Friday.
“When people are running from danger, we run to the danger.”
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