A message from retired Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton

The Victoria Police family has been in mourning since the tragic incident in Kew on 22 April, when we lost four of our members.

Leading Senior Constable Lynette Taylor, Constable Glen Humphris, Senior Constable Kevin King and Constable Josh Prestney lost their lives when they were undertaking their everyday duties, helping to keep the community safe.

They were members of our Road Policing Drug and Alcohol Section and Highway Patrol. They were our colleagues, our friends, our squad mates, our family. They had different backgrounds, life experiences and had taken different paths to join Victoria Police. But they had a common goal and purpose – to protect and make a difference to the Victorian community.

The decision to commit one’s life to serving and protecting others is a truly honourable and selfless one. It takes a special person to put on the blue uniform and turn up to work each day to respond to those in need.

As many will attest, the everyday nature of police work can sometimes seem mundane, but this event has reminded us of how quickly that can change. No one goes to work expecting not to return home to their loved ones at the end of their shift.

The families of our fallen members have been forever changed by this tragedy. We are providing every support to them and will continue to do so. They will always be part of the Victoria Police family.

There has been an outpouring of community support for the members, their families and the work of police in general during this difficult time. It has been truly remarkable and moving to see the extended policy family and the Victorian community standing together. On behalf of Victoria Police, thank you for your heartfelt tributes.

Photography: AAP

As I step away from Victoria Police, I have been reflecting on what a great privilege it has been to be Chief Commissioner for the past five years. While the recent months have been incredibly tough, I have been reminded of the quality of the people who currently serve or have served in Victoria Police.

Our members do an outstanding job keeping the Victorian community safe: by engaging with the community, responding to calls for assistance, preventing, investigating and prosecuting offences. Time and time again, I have seen Victoria Police’s people face incredible challenges – natural disasters, state-wide emergencies,

mass tragedies and the loss of their colleagues – and rally together to protect and support the community and seek justice on behalf of victims.

Our people have worked incredibly hard behind the scenes so that officers at the frontline are able to do their jobs safely and effectively. Our program of modernisation over the past five years has delivered new technology, equipment and vehicles. We’ve also added more police, Protective Services Officers, technical and support staff, making Victoria Police the largest police service in the country.

I am so proud of what Victoria Police has achieved over the past five years. Employees from every section of Victoria Police contribute to its accomplishments and play their part to protect and support the Victorian community. I extend my sincere gratitude to them all for their service and commitment.

As I now become a police veteran, I feel secure in the knowledge that the Victorian community is in very safe hands. You should feel confident knowing you have such a professional, dedicated and well-equipped group of people serving you and working to keep you safe.

– Ret. CCP Graham Ashton