Today we remember our fallen colleague Gilbert Arcus on the 50th anniversary of his death in the course of duty.
Sergeant Arcus was born and raised in Levin. He attended Horowhenua College, and as a college cadet was selected to attend military college in Canberra in 1944.
On graduation he joined ‘J’ Force – the British and Commonwealth occupation force in Japan after World War 2. On return to New Zealand, he completed his trade certificates as a carpenter.
By the time he joined New Zealand Police in 1957 he was married with three children. He served in Wellington as a direct entrant to the CIB but transferred to the uniform branch on promotion to sergeant and moved to Tauranga in 1965.
At 4.30pm on 4 February 1970 Sergeant Arcus and a colleague were called to support St John Ambulance officers who were dealing with a woman who had locked herself in her house.
As Sergeant Arcus tried to reason with the woman, she became agitated and pushed him. He fell and hit his head on a concrete path, suffering a fractured skull. He died an hour later at Tauranga Hospital.
The woman was charged with manslaughter, but was declared insane.
Our thoughts are with Sergeant Arcus' family, friends and former colleagues.
Lest we forget: the Commissioner's Office issues tributes for the benefit of Police staff on or near the anniversaries of the deaths of officers slain through criminal action. From today we will share these tributes with the communities they died protecting.