National Police Remembrance Day Service held at St Patrick’s Cathedral in Toowoomba

The price paid to protect our community was honoured at a service in St Patrick’s Cathedral as part of National Police Remembrance Day.

The flag and bagpipe procession featured at the National Police Remembrance Day service in St Patrick's Cathedral, Toowoomba, September 27, 2024.

The memories of constables Rachel McCrow and Matthew Arnold, along with senior constables Brett Forte and David Masters, were vivid in the minds of those who gathered at St Patrick’s Cathedral for National Police Remembrance Day.

Held on Friday, the annual service gives the Queensland Police Service time to reflect on the lives lost protecting our community.

Those four officers were honoured at the service, along with several past and present staff who passed away in the previous 12 months.

Acting Inspector Paula Smithard speaks at the National Police Remembrance Day service in St Patrick's Cathedral, Toowoomba, September 27, 2024.

Darling Downs City Patrol Acting Inspector Paula Smithard said it was important that the police “family” comes together.

“Policing is a really difficult job and sometimes we face really difficult situations that become really dangerous and (it is) unfortunate for some officers to lose their lives,” she said.

“Over the past few years we have lost some really special police officers in Brett Forte, Dave Masters, Rachel McCrow and Matthew Arnold.

Condamine MP Pat Weir at the National Police Remembrance Day service in St Patrick's Cathedral, Toowoomba, September 27, 2024.

“Losing any officer nationwide is really sad, but especially in the Southern Region losing so many officers in such tragic circumstances, it is a really sad occasion.”

The tragic circumstances around the deaths of constables McCrow and Arnold during an ambush at Wieambilla in 2022 was the subject of a coronial inquest that ran for about two months in Brisbane.

It has closed, with the coroner due to hand down their findings at a date to be set.

Toowoomba Councillor Kerry Shine lays a floral tribute at the National Police Remembrance Day service in St Patrick's Cathedral, Toowoomba, September 27, 2024.

When the inquest process is complete, a plaque honouring constables McCrow and Arnold will be added to the memorial at the Southern Region office at Neil St.

“Next year we will be celebrating the lives of Matthew and Rachel, for now it is a time for us to breathe, pause and remember those we have lost,” Acting Inspector Smithard said.

Lockyer MP Jim McDonald lays a floral tribute at the National Police Remembrance Day service in St Patrick's Cathedral, Toowoomba, September 27, 2024.