Hundreds of serving and retired police officers have hit the road on motorcycles today, setting off on an 850-kilometre memorial ride to honour Tasmania Police Constable Keith Smith and other fallen colleagues.
The Wall to Wall Ride for Remembrance is making its way from Melbourne to the National Police Memorial in Canberra, where Smith will be recognised during Saturday’s national service.
Smith, a veteran constable, was fatally shot on June 16 while on duty in Tasmania’s north-west.
Tasmania Police said its remembrance baton, bearing Smith’s name, is being escorted to Canberra by serving officers.
Riders are also carrying the names of two Victorian officers – Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart – who were killed in the line of duty last month.
“The Wall to Wall Ride, more than ever, sends a powerful message that our fallen officers are never forgotten,” Victoria Police Inspector Georgie Swinton said.
“The recent loss of our two members at Porepunkah demonstrates the daily risks our police confront in keeping their communities safe.”
The route takes riders through Sale, Lakes Entrance and Cann River before crossing into New South Wales and stopping overnight in Merimbula.
On Saturday, the convoy will roll into Canberra, where more than 2,000 riders from police forces across the country will gather for the commemoration.
Now in its 16th year, the event has raised more than $400,000 for Victoria Police Legacy since 2009 and almost $2 million for police legacies nationwide.
In Tasmania, a satellite Wall to Wall Ride will leave the Police Academy in Rokeby at 9am on Saturday, travelling through the Central Highlands, Poatina and Railton before finishing in Ulverstone.
