In 2001, it was resolved to establish a National Police Memorial in Canberra.
The Memorial pays tribute to Australian Police Officers who have been killed on duty or have died as a result of their duties since the advent of policing in Australia and to recognise the unique nature of police service and the dangers that police face in their daily pursuits.
The $2.4million memorial was jointly funded by the Australian Government (through the Australian Federal Police), State and Territory Police Services and Police Federation of Australia.
The Memorial was completed and dedicated on 29 September 2006 (National Police Remembrance Day). Following the dedication ceremony, a criteria for future inclusion of names on the National Police Memorial was agreed upon together with a National Police Memorial Co-ordination Committee.
On this day
19 April 1982
Victoria
About 11.30 a.m. Monday 19 April 1982 Constable Cygan was performing wide-load escort duty along Heatherton Road Springvale. His motor cycle skidded after running through an oil slick on the road surface. The machine failed to respond to his efforts to control it and it slid into an oncoming vehicle fatally injuring Cygan.
On this day
19 April 1962
South Australia
Huddy died from injuries he sustained in a collision on the Sturt Highway near Mount Mary. Just hours earlier in Adelaide he had collected a new Holden police utility to take back to his post at Morgan. As he set out on the return trip his second wife Lorraine, due to give birth to their second child, stayed in the city. On the highway he tried to overtake another vehicle but his utility collided with the offside of an oncoming semi-trailer. The utility overturned four times leaving him little chance to survive. Born in Ardrossan he had joined SAPOL as a 15-year-old probationary junior constable in 1941. After a two-year stint with the Northern Territory Police from 1945 he returned to SA and served chiefly in the country. His posts from 1947 included Stirling Renmark Palmer and Gumeracha. Huddy died eight years before the birth of his grandson Adam Barney who became a police officer in 2000 and remains with SAPOL today.
On this day
19 April 1931
New South Wales
On 30 December 1926 Sergeant Carmody and Constable Delaney responded to a complaint of suspicious persons at a building at the corner of Elizabeth and Devonshire Streets Sydney. The Sergeant climbed a fire escape ladder at the premises however as he was doing so he fell dropping a distance of over six metres. He was taken home where a medical examination discounted any fractures however revealed that he had jarred his spine and injured his back muscles. Over the next couple of years the Sergeant’s health failed due to the original injuries sustained in the fall and he was discharged medically unfit on 30 April 1929. He died on 19 April 1931. The Sergeant was born in 1887 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 3 January 1911. At the time of his injury he was stationed at the Regent Street Police Station.
On this day
19 April 1918
Queensland
Sergeant Walter William Dumbrell A.I.F. number 348 41st Australian infantry Battalion. Killed in action in France 19 April 1918. He is buried in the Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery Somme France.
On this day
19 April 1910
New South Wales
The Senior Constable was a mounted Trooper attached to the Euston Police Station. On the 18 April 1910 he made a patrol to the police paddock and while he was returning his troop horse began to buck. The horse then bolted and Senior Constable Smith was thrown violently against a tree sustaining severe internal injuries. Knowing he would not be found before it became dark he began to walk towards town. When he had travelled a short distance he was found by some men who helped him into Euston in a barrow. A doctor arrived from Balranald that night and after examining the injured man made arrangements to have him taken to hospital. Unfortunately the vehicle conveying the injured Constable to hospital broke down and he passed away. The Senior Constable was born in 1871 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 11 February 1897. At the time of his death he was stationed at Euston.
On this day
19 April 1900
Western Australia
Dong and another assistant Don had arrested 13 Aborigines but three had escaped. Their camp was located east of Leopold Downs where Don and a third assistant, Coombul, joined Dong. The smoke from the police camp was detected by the escapees who were camped 2km away. They attacked the police camp east of Leopold Downs, spearing and killing Dong.
Remembering mates – Wall to Wall Ride is held in September each year. Click here for more information.
Please check with your state/territory police organisation for local information of services to be held on 29 September, or click here for more information.
The National Police Memorial is located in Kings Park on the northern shore of Lake Burley Griffin adjacent to Queen Elizabeth II Island and the National Carrillion. View in Google maps