Archbishop John Bathersby of Brisbane paid tribute to the 137 police officers who have died on duty in the history of the Queensland police in a recent service at St Stephen’s Cathedral.
Thousands of police marched through Brisbane’s CBD to the September 28 service which was held as part of National Police Remembrance Day.
The day took on a particularly sombre note due to the deaths of two officers Detective Sergeant Stewart Kerlin and Constable Brett Irwin since last year’s service.
The service came two months and two days after Const Irwin’s funeral held at the cathedral on July 26.
Archbishop Bathersby in his homily said that these officers and the entire police service had played a part in building up the Kingdom of God.
“(The Kingdom) is present… in the work of those in the police service who day and night at many different levels, work quietly but effectively, often at the risk of their own lives, to preserve the freedoms that are the very stuff of our society and the very essence of the Kingdom,” the archbishop said.
“It is only when we gather on an occasion like this to remember the deaths of 137 police officers who died for the sake of others that we realise its reality and cost.
“So today we say to the Police Commissioner and all police officers throughout Queensland and Australia: ‘Thank you for what you have done and continue to do’.”
Among those also present at the cathedral service were Lt Matthew Rowe representing Queensland Governor Quentin Bryce; Chief Justice Paul de Jersey and Mrs de Jersey and MP Chris Bombolas representing Minister for Police Judy Spence.
