Senior Constable Kevin King, Constable Glen Humphris, farewelled in Victoria Police Academy funerals
Senior Constable Kevin King and Constable Glen Humphris have been honoured by family, friends and colleagues at the Victoria Police Academy after last week’s tragic Eastern Freeway crash, with comrades paying tribute to their sacrifice.
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High on the hill, the bell tower at Victoria Police Academy has been bathed in blue light to remember them: the “Fallen Four’’.
They are the four who died on the Eastern Freeway protecting the community they served: Leading Senior Constable Lynette Taylor, Senior Constable Kevin King, Constable Glen Humphris and Constable Josh Prestney.
On Thursday, Leading Senior Constable Taylor was laid to rest.
This afternoon Senior Constable Kevin King was farewelled.
Earlier on Friday, Constable Humphris was the first to be honoured by family, friends and colleagues — not only for the uniform he wore, but for the man he was beneath it.
The funeral was small, limited to family, as current restrictions require.
A livestream broadcast the funeral to wider family, friends and colleagues.
All four fallen members will be honoured again in this very place with full police honours once the coronavirus restrictions are lifted.
As mourners gathered inside the gates to the Glen Waverley academy, flowers paved the way to the chapel.
Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton was among those at the academy to honour Constable Humphris.
The piper played Amazing Grace as his casket was carried from the chapel.
Mr Ashton and Senior Chaplain Jim Jung then led the hearse to the main gates and saluted Constable Humphris as a police helicopter flew overhead to mark his passing.
POLICE PAY TRIBUTE TO SENIOR CONSTABLE KING, CONSTABLE HUMPHRIS
Senior Constable Kevin King was happily married to his teenage sweetheart Sharron and had three sons James, William, and Henry.
Everyone who knew him loved him, with even those he pulled over on the roads singing his praises.
On one occasion he reached out his arm to escort home an elderly lady caught drinking driving.
Police minister Lisa Neville said he brought “love and compassion” to his job over his six-year career.
“I have seen stories from people who he had taken their licence from them and have sent messages of support after and thanked him for how he treated them,” she said.
Constable King moved to the Nunawading Highway Patrol two years ago.
It was here he spread his message of compassionate policing to his colleagues, Ms Neville said.
“He lit up the room. He changed that workforce for the better,” she said.
Police Association Secretary Wayne Gatt choked back tears as he spoke of the fallen officer.
“Often we hear and see the hard end of policing. Kevin really showcased among his peers his ability to connect with people he met on the street,” he said.
“He ensured people were looked after in a caring and compassionate way.”
Constable Glen Humphris was new to policing but had already shown great promise.
“He had an incredible future. He would have been someone that made an incredible contribution to keeping our state safe,” Ms Neville said.
“He did so in the short time he was in Victoria Police.”
Constable Humphris and his partner Todd Robinson had moved to Melbourne from NSW in 2018.
He loved his family and would call his mother Katie daily when she was unwell.
“He was a special son,” Ms Neville said.
Mr Gatt said Constable Humphris had enormous potential that could not be measured by years of service.
“The sacrifice he has given is immeasurable and his impression on Victoria Police and on all members will outlast any of our lengths of service,” he said.
Constable Humphis graduated from the Police Academy in March this year.
The pain of his loss was painted on the faces of his squad mates as they carried his hearse from the Police Academy on Friday.
Mr Gatt said his squad mates will carry the hurt of his death for the rest of their lives.
“They will carry his memory and honour his memory every day they service,” he said.
High-ranking police, including Deputy Commissioner Shane Patton, paused for a minute’s silence in honour of both officers at Airlie Conference Centre, a former police training college in South Yarra.
Wreaths of blue and white flowers were laid in their honour with the message: “You will forever be in our hearts and mind”.
Police across the state paused to honour their colleagues, including patrol units which pulled over their cars and switched on their headlights.
Deputy Commissioner Wendy Steendam said both men made the “ultimate sacrifice” in service to the state and would not be forgotten.
She was the reviewing officer at Constable Humphis graduation and said his passion for policing was second to none.
“Sadly last Wednesday, the opportunity for him to realise his full potential was lost,” she said.
She added: “We have lost four outstanding members of Victoria and they will always be remembered.”
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