Dunedin police gathered in Knox Church yesterday to remember those officers who died on duty.
The service — held throughout New Zealand and Australia yesterday — honoured police staff who died as a result of their duties.
Otago Coastal area commander Inspector Marty Gray said it was really important to officers to remember those who donned the blue before them, and who made the ultimate sacrifice.
"Also those that died through illness or other occasions ... Today gives us time to come together as a whole police service.
"When there is a serious incident going on and everyone’s running away from the scene, the only ones running towards it is police," Insp Gray said.
The police roll of honour, which remembers the 33 police and traffic officers killed on duty since 1886, was called out, listing every officer who was slain on duty.
Those included Constable James Butler, 29, of Dunedin, who was attacked and beaten while trying to control an offender in the Dunedin police cells. He died eight days later on January 2, 1938.
Const Donald Richard Stokes, 23, died on August 15, 1966, after being beaten by escaping prisoners in the Dunedin police station cells.
Const Peter William Murphy, 21, of Invercargill, died on September 25, 1976, after he was shot when attending a break-in at an Invercargill sports shop.
Senior Const Peter Morris Umbers, 35, of Ranfurly, was bashed to death with his own baton after stopping a robbery suspect on May 27, 1990.
Sergeant Stewart Graeme Guthrie, 41, died on November 13, 1990, after being shot during the Aramoana massacre.
Insp Gray said sometimes you just think "really? That is a lot of names".
"In the Police College in Wellington they have a memorial for all those that have died and we go there to try and pay homage and respects, but we also really hope to never see another name.
"Even in my time with the police, unfortunately I have seen plaques go up on that wall. It just reminds you that we do love our communities, but they’re not always safe."
Also honoured were the 64 officers and employees who died as a result of their duties.
Included in that number were 14 officers who died in November 1918 after contracting influenza while performing their duties during the pandemic.
At the time, police had to attend to the dead and enter households where the illness was rife, in place of medical professionals, public health officials and funeral directors.
That number included two Invercargill officers, Senior Sergeant John Burrows and Constable John Lachlan McKenzie, who died within seven days of each other.
Officers who died in the past year, active and retired, were also honoured, as well as officers slain in the line of duty in the Pacific Islands.
