Police commemorate fallen officers in services across the country
Police exposed daily to trauma and tragedy bear a heavy burden and in some cases, do not survive it. Now, they have been honoured for their service.
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Two NT police officers, who died in the line of duty, were commemorated by their colleagues in sombre remembrance parade across the Territory.
Senior Constable Kiim Parnell, who joined NT Police in 1987, had received the Meritorious Service Award in 2021 for her service in both the Territory and Alice Springs.
Constable Parnell passed away in May and is survived by her husband and fellow officer Sean Parnell and their five children.
Prior to her death, Ms Parnell had been instrumental in lobbying for a park bench known as a ‘Reflection Chair’ to be installed in locations around the Territory and Alice Springs to commemorate police members whose lives had been lost through tragic circumstances.
Senior Auxiliary Kim Maree Lucas also tragically died in February this year.
She had served the Territory community across multiple stations for 21 years and was awarded the NT Police Service Medal in 2012 after 10 years with the force.
The two officers join the national Honour Roll – a list of police officers who died while serving.
Speaking after a parade through Mitchell Street in Darwin followed by a church service at St Mary’s Cathedral, Police Commissioner Michael Murphy said first responders did incredibly hard work.
“They see things other people don’t see,” Commissioner Murphy said.
“They see the dark side of humanity.
“They deal with violence … they get spat at, they get sworn at.
“I think our police are under a lot of pressure.
“We also think about the people who are behind our officers each and every day, helping them do their job.”
At the Sacred Heart Catholic Parish in Alice Springs, police chaplain Jeff Greene shared his own memory of fallen colleague Sergeant Dan Stiller, who died in the line of duty in 2010, leaving behind his wife and unborn baby.
“That news flattened me,” he said.
“The ripples caused by Dan’s death are still being felt by his colleagues, family, friends … all because he stood up and said ‘here I am, send me’.”
See photos from the day’s events.
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