New Zealand Police staff, former staff and families gathered around the country today to mark Police Remembrance Day.
On 29 September police around Australasia and the Pacific region pay their respects to colleagues who were slain on duty, who died as a direct result of their duty, and serving and former staff who have died in the previous 12 months.
At the national service of remembrance at the Royal New Zealand Police College (RNZPC) today, eight new names were read out – eight Traffic Safety Service officers killed in crashes while on duty.
Speaking before the wreath-laying at the Memorial Wall, where the names of 32 officers slain on duty are recorded, Commissioner Mike Bush said this was the most poignant day on the calendar for the Police family.
“Like all families, we grieve for those we have loved and lost,” he said.
“These officers made the ultimate sacrifice to protect their communities from harm, and it’s appropriate that we acknowledge all those who have died in the course of their duties.
“We do this every year because it’s important to remember their contribution.”
The names of the 32 slain officers were read out, followed by the names of 48 who died as a direct result of their duty, and 16 serving staff and 89 former staff who died in the past year.
Commissioner Bush laid a wreath in memory of New Zealand Police staff who were slain, died as a result of their duties and serving staff who died in the past 12 months.
Deputy Commissioner Resource Management Audrey Sonerson laid a wreath in memory of Australian and South Pacific staff who were slain or died as a result of their duties, and former New Zealand Police staff who died in the past year.
The eight MOT staff acknowledged today were identified through the ongoing Recognition Project. Commissioner Bush acknowledged staff involved in the project for their painstaking work to identify officers who have died in the line of duty so they can be appropriately remembered.
Remembrance Day was especially poignant in Christchurch, where the service was held at the Bridge of Remembrance for the first time since the 2011 earthquake.
In Auckland staff from the three Police districts of Tāmaki Makaurau gathered to pay tribute at the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, Parnell.
The new names:
The eight Traffic Safety Service staff identified by the Recognition Project for the first time this year are:
- Main Highways Board Inspector Thomas Arthur Allcock, 25, Rotorua. Died 24 December 1938 after being hit by a truck while trying to pull over another vehicle;
- Transport Department Inspector Edmund Lawrence Fox, 34, Gore. Died 6 December 1954 in collision with a truck that crossed the centre line.
- Transport Department Inspector George Henry Jenner, 58, Christchurch. Died 15 May 1955 in a collision with a truck while supervising a drivers’ licence test;
- Traffic Officer Richard Henry Cecil Dench, 31, Christchurch. Died 23 November 1970 after losing control of his motorcycle during pursuit training outside Porirua;
- Traffic Officer Martin Ross Miller, 21, Wellington. Died 14 March 1973 when his patrol motorcycle and a truck collided.
- Traffic Officer George Nelson, 23, Wellington. Died 25 October 1975 when a car pulled into the path of his motorcycle;
- Traffic Officer Robert Clive Bell, 21, Wellington. Died 12 February 1978 when a car pulled into the path of his motorcycle as he responded to a vehicle crash.
- Traffic Officer Steven Alan Perry, 22, Lower Hutt. Died 4 April 1983 after his patrol motorcycle collided with another vehicle in Petone.