Community remembers those who served

By Shaun Inguanzo
POLICE, their families, friends and local dignitaries paid respect to officers killed in the line of duty at a remembrance ceremony at Springvale Botanical Cemetery last week.
Friday’s event was part of National Police Remembrance Day, which honoured the 150 Victorian police killed in the line of duty.
Of those, 30 have been murdered.
Senior police chaplain Reverend Jim Pilmer read the first reflection while Region Five Assistant Commissioner Paul Evans read the second.
Attendees then laid wreaths at the cemetery’s Police Memorial.
Among the dignitaries there to pay their respects were Mulgrave MP Daniel Andrews, Greater Dandenong councillor Maria Sampey and Springvale Botanical Cemetery trust deputy chairman Hugo Goetze.
Springvale Botanical Cemetery CEO Russ Alison said the service was a day for people to remember those killed while tending to the community’s safety.
“This service is an opportunity to acknowledge the wonderful contribution police make to our daily lives and to remember those who have been lost in serving the community,” he said.
Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Christine Nixon said National Police Remembrance Day and the accompanying Blue Ribbon Day should be a time to honour police and emergency services personnel in Victoria, Australia, and throughout the world, who have died doing their job.