National Police Remembrance Day: Victorian police officers killed on freeway honoured
The police officers tragically killed after pulling over a Melbourne Porsche driver have got the respect they deserve during a touching send-off.
Four Victorian police officers killed in the line of duty have been honoured in a solemn ceremony remembering fallen police.
Leading Senior Constable Lynette Taylor, Sen-Constable Kevin King, Constable Josh Prestney and Constable Glen Humphris were tragically killed on the Eastern Freeway in Kew on April 22 this year.
Porsche driver Richard Pusey was pulled over by Snr Const Taylor and Const Glen Humphris in April for allegedly driving at 149km/h.
Soon after the two other officers arrived on the scene, a truck veered into the officers, who were all killed in the crash.
Mr Pusey is accused of filming the officers’ dying moments.
It was the biggest loss of life in a single event for Victoria Police in its 167-year history.
Chief Commissioner Shane Patton laid a wreath at the Police Memorial Honour Wall on St Kilda Road to remember fallen officers as part of National Police Remembrance Day.
Mr Patton unveiled a plaque in memory of the four officers whose deaths caused ripples of grief throughout the community.
Their names join those of 166 other Victoria police officers listed on the wall who also made the ultimate sacrifice.
The four have also been memorialised on the National Police Memorial Wall in Canberra.
In an online memorial service, Mr Patton said the tragic circumstances of their untimely deaths would forever be remembered.
“Like every new police member and protective services officer who subscribes to a career of duty, Lyn, Glen, Kevin and Josh took an oath to serve the community and uphold the law and died in defence of this oath,” he said.
“No one goes to work expecting not to return home, but this tragic incident is a stark reminder of the risks inherent in policing.”
During the service, Lyn’s husband Stuart Schulze described her as a devoted mum with a zest for adventure.
“She was pretty down to earth. She smiled a lot and she enjoyed life,” he said.
The community’s outpouring of grief was “humbling”.
“She’s going to be sadly missed by all of us,” he said.
Todd Robinson paid tribute to his partner Glen, who loved his job and had already mapped out his career in the force.
“I will always reflect back about the whirlwind of adventure and love we had for each other,” he said.
“It was five years of full-on non-stop fun.
“He loved his career. We loved each other. He left happy, content and he was complete.”
There was a minute’s silence to honour fallen officers and the 23 police members, protective services officers, custody officers and public servants who died in the last 12 months, followed by the national anthem.
Premier Daniel Andrews paid tribute to the officers.
“To live your life in the service and protection of others is an amazing thing. To lose your life doing that work is a terrible tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers and best wishes are with every police member and every police family today,” he said.
Wild moment cops confront knife-armed teen
Bodycam footage has captured the moment a teen was confronted by cops while holding a knife at a busy CBD bus stop.
Jury retires in trial of cop who tasered 95yo
The jury has retired to consider their verdict in the manslaughter trial of a police officer who fatally tasered a 95-year-old woman in a nursing home.
Man dead after terrifying road rage incident
A man who was allegedly armed with a knife and driving erratically has been arrested after a pedestrian was hit and killed during a ‘traumatic’ incident.