Sunshine Coast police have joined colleagues, political leaders and thousands of Queenslanders to pay tribute to two fallen young officers.
A large crowd gathered at Brisbane Entertainment Centre on Wednesday to attend a heart-wrenching memorial service for Constable Matthew Arnold, 26, and 29-year-old Constable Rachel McCrow, who were shot dead in an ambush on a Western Downs property at Wieambilla on December 12.
Sunshine Coast District Officer Superintendent Craig Hawkins said the memorial was “an important occasion for all police, family and friends to recognise these two very fine and respected officers”.
“The true police culture was on display to memorialise these officers and honour their commitment,” he said.
He said the shootings were a “confronting reminder” of the dangers police can face.
“The death of both Constables McCrow and Arnold has had a wide-reaching impact on all police, including us on the Sunshine Coast,” he said.
“These officers were murdered responding to a call for service that would normally be described as routine.
“For such a routine task to result in the death of these two officers is extremely confronting and a blunt reminder of the dangers police regularly face.”
He also said local police had received plenty of support.
“The outpouring of support we have received from the broader community has been truly humbling and for this I will be forever grateful,” he said.
Colleagues trembled and choked back tears as they offered tributes to the pair at the memorial service.
They remembered them for their bravery, their professionalism, their optimism and above all for being “so completely determined to help, to be a force for good”.
“It has become self-evident that these individuals reflected goodness in their lives,” Police Chaplain Jeffrey Baills told the mourning crowd.
Senior Constable Melissa Gibson urged officers far and wide to emulate Const McCrow, saying she would be proud of them for kitting up and returning to serve their communities despite their grief.
“For every bit of evil in this world, Rach, more than anyone, would be reminding us there are still good people who need our help,” she said.
Senior Sergeant Laura Harriss revealed that in police work, her mate Const Arnold had finally found his passion and purpose in life.
“He was a big man with an even bigger heart so filled with love for everyone around him,” she said.
The two have been recognised for their bravery and dedication, posthumously awarded the Queensland Police Valour Medal, Queensland Police Service Medal, National Police Service Medal and National Medal.
“Matthew and Rachel are colleagues and friends who have been taken from us far too soon,” Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll lamented.
“They were committed and enjoyed their policing careers and their passing is a tragic loss.
“The Queensland Police Service and community have lost two exceptional police officers.”
Ms Carroll said the slain officers had created a positive impression and touched the lives of countless individuals and families “in ways that cannot be expressed in words alone”.
Yet, shock and anger about the ambush, which resulted in the worst loss of police lives in Queensland in living memory, remains palpable.
“What happened on December 12 was un-Australian and does not belong in this country,” Rev Baills said.
“It was abhorrent, it was not of God, It was absolute evil.
“This barbaric act has shocked our community and it’s irreparably damaged the Arnold family and the McCrow family, and we stand and we sit with you in your grief today and in the days that lie ahead.”
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk praised the pair’s bravery in their final moments, saying like neighbour Alan Dare who was also fatally shot in the attack, they had gone towards danger rather than run from it.
“From the smallest communities where Matthew and Rachel served, to our biggest cities, even around the world, we recognise and appreciate that every day, our police demonstrate heroism,” the premier said.
“In a sea of blue, on an ocean of tears, we will shoulder this burden together, we will rededicate ourselves to their example of there being far more good than there is evil.”
Afterwards, thousands of police, dignitaries and ordinary people formed a guard of honour as the two coffins were taken by hearse to private funerals.
The procession was piped off by the police band and led by dozens of cops on motorcycles, with mounties, dog squad officers and patrol cars following. Two police helicopters circled and some officers even stood to salute in boats on surrounding ponds.
The two constables were felled alongside two others, constables Keely Brough and Randall Kirk.
They had gone to the property for a missing persons check and were met by a hail of bullets fired by Gareth Train, his wife Stacey and brother Nathaniel. The shooters died in the subsequent firefight.
Investigators are yet to officially declare a motive but are examining known links between the Trains and extreme conspiracy theorist groups and forums.
Wednesday’s service was also attended by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, Queensland Opposition Leader David Crisafulli, Queensland Police Minister Mark Ryan and Governor Jeannette Young.
