IT was a “quiet and solemn” affair at the Hamilton Police Station as local police officers commemorated the lives of their colleagues on National Police Remembrance Day.

With COVID-19 restrictions restricting public gatherings to 10 people, commemorations were more muted this year as the community remembered the 23 Victorian police officers, staff, chaplains and protective services officers who lost their lives in the past 12 months.

Hamilton Police station commander, senior sergeant Gerard Kelly said it was an “extremely different” day to past remembrance days.

“We had a capacity crowd of 10 people per the COVID restrictions, but members from the Southern Grampians police service area had the opportunity to remember the lives of our colleagues that have passed away,” he said.

“We weren’t able to extend the invitation to the wider community that we normally would, but we hope we will be able to have the community back to acknowledge those officers, protective services officers, staff and chaplain that lost their lives next year.

“I know the day was still acknowledged by the community this year, because we received a lot of calls at the station … which was nice.”

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