Honouring memory of our fallen officers

The sacrifices made by police officers were honoured with a ceremony on National Police Remembrance Day at the Albany Police Station on Friday.

The names of 85 WA Police officers all of whom had lost their lives in the line of duty, were read out.

Superintendent Ian Clarke welcomed those paying their respects and commended officers for the work they do to save lives and protect the community.

“The vocation of police remains one of the most challenging jobs a person can choose as a career,” Supt Clarke said.

“In some cases the officers pay the ultimate sacrifice in their endeavours to protect the wider community from the threats in the community they serve and those which may be brought to their shores.”

Supt Clarke shared the story of Detective Senior Constable Charles Scott, who died in a plane crash in March, 1996, bringing home how those sacrifices are never forgotten. Sen. Const. Scott was a member of a group including customs officer Peter Siep and Federal Police officer Steven Hill.

“These officers were part of a customs Federal Police surveillance operation when their Cessna 337 crashed near Mt Manypeaks, north-east of Albany,” he said.

“The aircraft wreck was located about 100m from the beach in near-inaccessible country about 30km east of Albany.

“The officers had been searching for some drums discovered by a bushwalker who reported his find when he returned and found that they had been opened and emptied.

“The investigation centred at that time on the nation’s biggest detected cannabis importations, smuggling about 13 tonnes of Thai cannabis heads into Fremantle in a fishing boat.

“Detective Sen. Const Scott’s sacrifice has been further recognised with a posthumous award of the WA Police Force star medal and the national police service medal.”

Reverend Karen Cave read a scripture and prayer to the audience of police officers.

Officers, dignitaries and the community laid wreaths and left offerings in honour of the fallen members of the WA Police Force.