Illawarra police have honoured their fallen fellow officers in a moving service at Kiama.
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Assistant Commissioner Peter Barrie led a trail of blue uniforms through the Norfolk pines lining the Kiama coastline, early Friday.
The procession ended with a salute outside Kiama Anglican Church.
Inside the church, the names of members who have this year lost their lives in the line of duty, or through injury or illness, were read aloud.
For local police, two names stood out – that of Lake Illawarra’s Chief Inspector Steven Johnson, who died suddenly at home on May 22, and of Wollongong’s Senior Constable Robert Sasagi, who succumbed to cancer on June 10.
The Kiama service was part of National Police Remembrance Day.
The reading of the Police Ode was reserved for a fledgling police officer, Probationary Constable Joshua Rein.
“As the sun surely sets: dawn will see it arise,” he read. “For service above self, demands its own prize.”
A prayer “for those who command”, came from a more seasoned source, Lake Illawarra’s Chief Inspector Brian Pedersen.
“For police officers in authority, and all who serve, that they may grow in wisdom and understanding, may they learn from all events, however distressing, and be given the courage to bear the burden of responsibility with fortitude in adversity and pride in those whom they command.”
The Kiama service was joined by 21 members of Northern Territory Police force, who are in the Illawarra for the Australian Police Rugby Union Championships.
Commissioner Barrie said the day was an important one for all police.
“It gives us an opportunity to remember fallen colleagues, to reflect on their service to community, on their dedication, and not only what they’ve given but what their families have given to maintain peace and order in our community over many, many years,” he said.
“But also it’s an opportunity to celebrate their lives, to celebrate their careers and their service.
“So I guess in some respects there’s two elements to why we come today. Some of it’s quite sombre in regard to remembering fallen colleagues, teammates and loved ones, but also part of it is quite joyful in celebrating what has been their wonderful life and celebrating their commitment to community.”
“It hasn’t been an easy year for southern region generally. We’ve had some tragic loss, not only in sworn officers but in unsworn officers who themselves have dedicated large parts of their lives to support us and what we do and their commitment to duty and to service of the community is no different to our sworn officers.”
Since the NSW Police Force was born in 1862, 270 members have lost their lives in the line of duty and through injury or illness.