CAREER IN FOCUS
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KISSING A LOVED CAREER GOODBYE There are a lot of lessons that can be learnt during a 39-year policing career, but for Sergeant Peter, Lukaitis there’s one lesson that stands out above the rest.
That night, the then Bendigo-based leading senior constable had just finished responding to a young drink driver who was threatening suicide when he got a call over the police radio that would cement his important life lesson.
Four police officers were shot that night; Senior Detective Craig Miller, Senior Constable Peter Eames, Inspector Ulf Kaminski and Sgt Lukaitis.
“I said, ‘You have to and when I say one, two, three, you need to go and I’ll stand in front of you’,” Sgt Lukaitis said.
“Always kiss your partner and family goodbye when you leave the house,” Sgt Lukaitis said.
At the time, it was the worst police shooting in Victoria’s history.
“We did it and we went behind a tree, which looks pretty small when you’re getting shot at.
“I was standing right next to Ulf when he was shot,” Sgt Lukaitis said. “He hit the ground right beside me. That shot could have hit me or him … it hit him.
“I was pretty scared myself at that stage because I could still hear the firing and we were still exposed. I knew we had to get out – we couldn’t stay where we were.”
“I could hear the gunshots still coming, so I dropped to the ground beside Ulf.
Insp Kaminski’s deteriorating condition and the size of the small tree acting as his cover
It’s a lesson the Castlemaine sergeant, who retired in December, had to learn the hard way. On 31 October 1990, Sgt Lukaitis and his wife had a small argument over something he now can’t even remember. He then headed off to work without giving her a kiss goodbye. 22
POLICE LIFE | AUTUMN 2020
Two police officers had been shot at Kangaroo Flat after a local resident had reacted badly to an ambulance being called to his home, firing several shots into the night. Sgt Lukaitis recalled rushing to the scene with several thoughts running through his head, the main one being concern for the safety of any officers at the scene.
“While I was trying to push Ulf toward a car for cover, another shot came through and got me in the foot, just missing my head by millimetres.” Despite his bullet wound, Sgt Lukaitis knew he had to get Insp Kaminski to safety. Backing his protective vest to withstand a shot, Sgt Lukaitis moved back into the line of fire and put himself between Insp Kaminski and the gunman to make it easier for Insp Kaminski to get to cover. “Ulf had been shot in the stomach and was saying he couldn’t move,” he said.
