Senior Constable Matt Pople with drug detection dog Ace at the fund-raiser for Inspector Bryson Anderson. Picture: ADAM MCLEAN
Wollongong's Crown Street Mall filled with police, ambulance and fire personnel yesterday as part of a fund-raising event for the family of slain Hawkesbury police officer Bryson Anderson.
The Illawarra Emergency Services Expo showcased the suite of equipment and services the region's emergency authorities rely on in a working day, allowing members of the public to get up close and personal with a highway patrol car, police boat, police motorbike and a fully fitted-out an ambulance.
The day also featured demonstrations including a simulated rescue of a patient following a car accident and a drug dog on patrol.
Wollongong Sergeant Bob Minns said the event aimed to give the public a greater understanding of police work in the region, while raising funds for Police Legacy.
Sgt Minns said while most officers from the region had not met Detective Inspector Anderson, the death of a fellow officer cut deep among the policing ranks.
"Police go to jobs not expecting the worst but most of the time preparing for it," Sgt Minns said.
Det Insp Anderson was killed while attending a neighbourhood dispute at a rural property in Oakville, north-west of Sydney, in December.