Today we paused to remember those we have lost: colleagues, friends, loved ones.
The national Remembrance Day service and ceremonies nationwide and across Australasia paid tribute to slain officers, those who have died in the course of duty and former and serving staff who died in the past year.
The service in Nelson had added poignancy as Commissioner Richard Chambers and Police Minister Mark Mitchell joined staff and members of Senior Sergeant Lyn Fleming’s family to honour her on her home patch.
Services today included the first reading of Lyn’s name on the New Zealand Police Roll of Honour, read each year on Remembrance Day. In Nelson, a memorial stone in her honour was unveiled.
The national service at the Royal New Zealand Police College (RNZPC) included the laying of wreaths at the Memorial Wall - where the plaque for Constable Matthew Hunt has been updated to include his posthumous New Zealand Bravery Decoration.
Thank you for looking after each other: Commissioner Richard Chambers addresses the Nelson service.
In Nelson, all thoughts were on Lyn. Commissioner Chambers told those gathered there was only one place he wanted to be on Remembrance Day - "right here with you all in Nelson".
He said Lyn was "our 34th police officer killed in the line of duty, our first police woman killed in the line of duty, and the first Nelson Bays member killed in the line of duty.
"Not only was she a remarkable policewoman, she was also a daughter, a wife, a mum, a sister, and now a grandmother to baby Manaia."
He acknowledged Lyn's family members present, and the Tasman police leadership "for the remarkable support" provided since Lyn's death on New Year's Day.
"Dealing with the loss of colleagues in the line of duty is never going to be easy," he said.
"The only way that we gather the strength and the energy to get up and do what we do in policing again tomorrow is because of the support that we provide to each other and the support that we know we have from the community. Thank you for looking after each other."
Minister Mitchell acknowledged how Lyn's death had impacted and affected her colleagues.
"I want to acknowledge, quite simply, the outstanding work you do serving and protecting the communities that you love and that you are part of.
"In my experience, there's only one reason a police officer steps up and joins Police and that is because they love and want to serve and want to protect the communities that they're from."
Lyn's contribution has been marked with a memorial stone, unveiled as part of the service in Nelson.
Attendees at the RNZPC included Matthew’s mother, Lyn’s sister and her husband, policing partners from Australia and other jurisdictions, faith leaders and iwi representatives from Ngāti Toa Rangatira.
Acting Deputy Commissioner Jill Rogers paid tribute to Matthew and Lyn, and extended Police’s aroha to their family members. She said as well as remembering those we have lost, we should also remember staff involved in critical incidents "and be thankful their names are not on the Roll of Honour".
She said Remembrance Day involved looking back to times of both tragedy and celebration. “Through all these times, one word springs to mind about our Police staff: steadfast.
“No matter our role, we remain steadfast in our commitment to carrying out our duties, serving our communities and keeping New Zealanders safe.
“We are steadfast in wanting to provide an exceptional service, working with and for the people in our communities to make a difference.
“I am proud to be part of this organisation, staffed with dedicated, brave men and women who have answered the call of service.”
She said it was also right to look forward “so may I remind you of the Police whakataukī: “E tū ki te kei o te waka, kia pakia koe e ngā ngaru o te wā - Stand at the stern of the canoe and feel the spray of the future biting at your face.”
Associate Police Minister Casey Costello, acting Deputy Commissioner Jill Rogers and AFP Sergeant Hayley Hinton salute the Memorial Wall after laying wreaths.
At the Memorial Wall, wreaths were laid by Jill, for Police; Associate Police Minister Casey Costello, for the Government; and Australian Federal Police Liaison Officer Federal Agent Sergeant Hayley Hinton.
Associate Minister Casey Costello said she was proud to have been a police officer, and proud of the work of all Police staff - "these amazing individuals who are out there every day giving their all to this job.
"This is a day of remembrance but it is not just to remember what we have lost but remember the work and service that leaves an important legacy for this organisation."
