THEY are more than names on a plaque – they represent stories of service, grief and legacy, according to retired police officer Les McPhee.
The retired highway patrol sergeant carried memories and reflections of loss in an “epic” motorcycle ride in honour of fallen police last weekend.
The Wall to Wall Ride for Remembrance saw about 400 serving and retired police travel from the Victoria Police Memorial on St Kilda Road to the National Police Memorial in Canberra.
The memorials feature the names of officers killed in the line of duty.
More than 1900 riders from police forces across Australia converged at the conclusion of the 850km journey.
“This was my first opportunity to take part, and it’s about remembering all police who have lost their lives whilst on duty,” he said.
“And it’s not just about officers who have died on our roads, but in all situations like what confronted Robert Lane.”
Lane accompanied police car thief suspect Daniel Chapman to a campsite at Kyalite before he was shot twice in he head with a rifle in 1979.
“When you join the force, it becomes family,” Mr McPhee said.
“Whoever gets hurt, whenever it happens in any state, it impacts the comraderie across the policing family.
“Police are ordinary people doing a very difficult job. The first to run to danger when other run away from it.
“The names on the wall have stories, loved ones, jobs they trained passionately to perform in and left many devastated by their deaths.”
Mr McPhee said police weren’t immune from the road toll.
“Everyone has to be careful on the road, it doesn’t discriminate,” he said.
Mr McPhee said every year each state carried a baton with the names of officers who had passed away in the past year.
“This year we were fortunate not to carry any names of Victorian police,” he said.
“But we remember the sacrifices of officers killed this year from other states for just going to work.”
Nationwide five police were recognised, three of them historical deaths.
Mr McPhee believed the dangers of being on the frontline were never as risky as they were today.
“With social media, the world is becoming more violent,” Mr McPhee said.
“You just have to look at what is happening with the assassination attempts on a police leader in the US.
“It’s sad that society is becoming less tolerable and using violence to get their message across.”
Mr McPhee said the Wall to Wall Ride, now in its 15th year, also raised funds for Victoria Police Legacy.
Almost $370,000 has been raised for the not-for-profit organisation since it began in 2009.
Nationally for all police legacies, the event has raised about $1.6m.
Money raised is used to provide support for police members and their families who have lost a loved one.
Participants travelled to Sale, Lakes Entrance and Cann River before crossing the border into Eden and stayed overnight in Merimbula.
On Saturday riders made their way to Canberra for the national commemoration with police colleagues from all jurisdictions.
Acting Deputy Commissioner Libby Murphy said the event was a “profound” display of our “enduring respect and gratitude” to those police who have passed.
“Be it in the line of duty or through other causes, we honour their contribution in making our community a safer place,” she said.
“The Wall to Wall ride also shines a light on the important work of Victoria Police Legacy in supporting the police community in times of tragedy.
“As a police family, we will always be there for the loved ones who are left behind.
“Today is a reminder of that unity, not only within Victoria Police but within police forces across the nation.”
To learn the origins of the event, visit walltowallride.com/the-ride/about.
Learn more about Victoria Police Legacy, visit policelegacyvic.org.au.
