Victoria’s premier has paid tribute to four police officers killed on the Eastern Freeway, remembering them as “amazing Victorians” at a memorial service in Melbourne.
More than 1500 people have gathered at Docklands stadium on Thursday to honour the four officers, who died after being hit by a truck while on duty at Kew in April 2020.
Leading Senior Constable Lynnette Taylor, 60, Senior Constable Kevin King, 50, and constables Glen Humphris, 32, and Josh Prestney, 28 were standing in the emergency lane about to impound a Porsche 911, when they were hit by a truck.
The tragedy marked Victoria Police‘s single greatest loss of life, with the truck driver responsible jailed for 22 years.
The ceremony began with the police pipe band welcoming a guard of honour of officers marching, while holding large framed photos of the four officers.
Among those in attendance are Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews, Governor Linda Dessau, Police Minister Lisa Neville, federal Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews and former Victorian premiers John Brumby, Ted Baillieu and Jeff Kennett.
Mr Andrews opened the service, acknowledging the group as “amazing Victorians” who put their lives on the line to protect others.
“I doubt any of us will forget where we were and what we were doing when news filtered though that four officers – partners, parents, sons, daughters and siblings – had been killed in a terrible incident on the Eastern Freeway,” he told mourners.
“It affected all of us, it broke all of our hearts and it served as a reminder of how dangerous policing is.
“To live that life, to run toward the danger, to put your safety on the line to protect others is a special thing. No words can properly describe its value or worth.”
About 1000 Victoria Police officers and 500 members of the public have attended the memorial.
It has taken almost two years for the victims to be memorialised due to varying public health restrictions over the COVID-19 pandemic.
Funerals for the officers were restricted due to Victoria’s first lockdown.
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