EVERY time a police officer leaves for duty, they are faced with the daunting prospect that they may never return home to their family.
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For a few, that fear becomes a devastating reality.
Wagga Local Area Command on Thursday gathered at the St Michael's Cathedral to honour their colleagues who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect their community.
Two NSW officers, Curtis Cheng and Sergeant Geoffrey Richardson, were killed while performing their duties in the past year.
Inspector Phil Mulligan said the memorial had the utmost gravity for young officers, who were given the opportunity to pay respects to their fallen predecessors.
“We even remembered a police officer who was tragically killed in Griffith in 1954, and his sister came and laid a wreath in remembrance of him,” he said.
“It’s a very important day for the young police to pay their respects to the senior officers who have had years and years of experience.
“They’re out there protecting members of the community during daylight and darkness – leaving their families behind to risk it all every single day.”
A national service was also held at the National Police Memorial in Canberra, which was officially opened in 2006.
