Police service stirs memories

Fallen police officers were remembered and honoured by Narrogin’s police force and community at the Anglican Church last week.

National Police Remembrance Day has been held on or around September 29 each year since 1989.

On this day, the WA Police Force honours and remembers all fallen colleagues, along with other police organisations across Australasia and the South West Pacific Region.

Narrogin police Senior Sergeant John Bouwman said it was a very important occasion.

“It’s about taking a pause to remember those that died in their line of duty and the ultimate sacrifice that they gave for the public and the community,” he said.

This year also marked the 40th anniversary of the death of First Class Constable William Pense, who was killed during an altercation with an armed offender in Mt Barker.

Mr Pense served as a police officer for some time in Narrogin and made an impact on the police community here, according to retired constable Morrie Russell, who once worked alongside Mr Pense.

“I got to know him quite a bit, he was a confident and a very likeable guy — top man. It was terrible when I found out he’d been killed,” Mr Russell said.

“Today brings back a lot of memories. I knew a few other officers who were killed, but I was closer to Bill than the others.”

WA Police Force Commissioner Chris Dawson said Friday’s ceremonies were an opportunity to publicly commemorate officers who paid the price for ‘doing their job’. “Today we can recognise all these officers in a formal way, and stand with their families and friends to pay our respects and honour their memories,” he said.

Sen. Sgt Bouwman described the WA Police Force as an interlinked community.

“We work all over the State and cross paths with each other, so we’re like one big family,” he said.