Sites in Darwin and Alice Springs will turn blue to honour five police officers who died in two states over four tragic days last week.
The Peter McAulay Centre, Darwin Convention Centre, Anzac Hill, and NTPA Headquarters in Parap will be lit up tonight, Friday and Monday to coincide with the funerals.
The gesture honours four Victorian police officers who died in the line of duty beside a Melbourne Freeway last Wednesday and a senior South Australian officer who died in a crash in Adelaide on Saturday.
The Northern Territory Police Force and Northern Territory Police Association share the grief and express their deepest condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of Leading Senior Constable Lynette Taylor, Senior Constable Kevin King, Constable Glen Humphris and Constable Josh Prestney from Victoria Police and South Australian Detective Chief Superintendent Joanne Shanahan APM.
Commissioner Jamie Chalker APM said these shattering losses bring into focus the work police, fire and emergency services, and all first responders, do every day.
“The roadside deaths of four Victorian officers is an especially stark reminder as our officers are currently stationed on highways and other roads around the Territory and we keep them in our thoughts every minute of every day.”
NTPA President Paul McCue said the thin blue line is not bound by jurisdiction and our members are grieving deeply with their Victorian and South Australian colleagues following the tragic events of the past week.
“This unspeakable tragedy highlights how vulnerable our members are, each and every day, when they put on the uniform to serve and protect our community. The lighting of these landmarks is a small way we can pay tribute to the fallen officers and thank police right around the country for their dedication, bravery and sacrifice.”
NT Police and the NTPA would like to sincerely thank the Alice Springs Town Council and the Darwin Convention Centre for their generous show of support in lighting Anzac Hill and the Convention Centre blue to honour our fellow police officers.
