The police officers who were killed on the Eastern Freeway in Melbourne last week paid the ultimate price for protecting Victorians, Premier Daniel Andrew has said, as the force and relatives farewell two of the four officers killed.
The funerals of Constable Glen Humphris and Senior Constable Kevin King are being held today under grey skies at the Police Academy in Glen Waverley, in Melbourne's east.
Officers across the state will be asked to stop what they are doing and observe a minute of silence for their fallen colleagues.
Constable Humphris, Senior Constable King, Leading Senior Constable Lynette Taylor and Constable Joshua Prestney were killed on April 22 in what was the largest loss of officer life in a single incident in Victoria Police history.
A small, private ceremony for Constable Humphris was live-streamed for family and police colleagues this morning.
Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton, accompanied by the Victoria Police Chaplain, escorted the hearse to the gates of the academy to the strains of a lone bagpipe.
After a flyover by the Victoria Police helicopter, the hearse left the grounds of the police academy accompanied by a motorcycle escort.
A service for Senior Constable King will follow later today.
Yesterday, the force farewelled Leading Senior Constable Taylor in a private funeral at the academy, with only handful of people attending due to coronavirus restrictions on social gatherings.
Constable Prestney's funeral will be held on Monday.
Full public memorial services will be held for the four officers once coronavirus restrictions lift.
A 'terrible tragedy'
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews paid tribute to the officers and expressed his condolences on behalf of all Victorians.
"All of us have the families of the four police officers who tragically lost their lives protecting us … in our thoughts, in our hearts and our prayers," he said.
"On behalf of all Victorians, I just want to send my very best wishes to those families. This is a terrible tragedy."
He said the grieving process was more challenging because of the social-distancing rules imposed during the coronavirus pandemic.
Victorian landmarks are being lit up in blue as a show of respect for the officers who died on the job.
Recent recruit 'loved helping people'
Constable Glen Humphris began his police career in 2019, moving to Melbourne with his partner, Todd Robinson.
Mr Robinson was preparing dinner on the night of the crash and became worried when his partner failed to reply to a text message.
"After two hours of not hearing anything it was confirmed on TV that four had been killed. That moment I got a knock on the door with five senior police officers there," he said last week.
He praised his partner as someone who lit up the room and respected everyone's opinion.
"He loved helping people and being supported by the community," he said.
Officer with Nunawading Highway Patrol 'a big softie'
Senior Constable Kevin King served in Victoria Police for six years and eventually joined the Nunawading Highway Patrol in 2019.
He is survived by his wife Sharron Mackenzie and their three children, William, James and Henry.
He was remembered as a "big softie" and an "older head with a lot of life experience who always made good judgement calls".
His family described him as a "caring, considerate and gentle person" who enjoyed cooking, playing guitar and sharing his passion for footy.
"Our boys will miss so much about their father, not least going to the football with him, kicking the footy or just joking with him and listening to his slightly daggy dad jokes," the family said earlier this week in a statement.
Officers doing routine traffic stop when they were hit
On Thursday, Leading Senior Constable Taylor was remembered as an officer who made a huge difference to the community and police officers around the state observed a minute's silence in her honour.
Deputy Commissioner Shane Patton said Leading Senior Constable Taylor was a "gorgeous, vibrant person" who was committed to her family and friends.
Her family will be lost without her, he said after the service, because she looked after everyone and cared for everyone.
"She was a credit, not only to Victoria Police," he said.
"She looked after everyone. She cared for everyone."
The four officers were impounding an allegedly speeding Porsche in the emergency lane of the Eastern Freeway when they were hit by the truck.
The truck driver, Mohinder Singh, has been charged with four counts of culpable driving causing death and was remanded in custody when he made a brief appearance in court.
He will return to court in October.
The driver of the Porsche, Richard Pusey, was remanded in custody charged with nine offences, including speeding, failing to assist at a crash and drug offences.
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2020-05-01 02:16:45Z
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