A man keeps on hold in the Launceston General Hospital after the fatal shooting of a police officer in northwestern Tasmania on Monday morning.
Keith Anthony Smith-a 57-year-old agent with 25 years of service shot and killed while he tried to serve a notification ordered by the court in a property in Noord-Motton.
The police say that the alleged perpetrator and a 46-year-old man from the North Motie-in the hospital will remain and that an investigation into the shooting will continue.
The man was shot in his hand by a specialized tactical officer before he was taken into custody and was undergoing surgery in the hospital.
Police officers speak with drivers on Allison Road in North Motton, after the fatal shooting on Monday. ((ABC News: Mackenzie heard))
Members of the Special Operations Group were placed at the bottom of a long driveway when Constable Smith, accompanied by another uniformed officer, tried to serve the notification.
Police Association of Tasmania President Shane Tilley said the tactical officers were used as “Back -up”.
“These are daily jobs that our members attend throughout the state,” he said.
“We are not only appearing to resolve addresses, we do our intelligence controls in the background to assess the risk.
“There will be opportunities on the circuit as part of this research to see where those reviews were coming, the source was clear at that time in the area.”
The shooting, and the circumstances that prior to, are the subject of a professional standards research. ((ABC News: Mackenzie heard))
There has been an outpouring of sorrow for Constable Smith. ((ABC News: Meg Fergusson))
Police Commissioner of Tasmania, Donna Adams, depicted with Police Association of Tasmania’s Shane Tilley at the press conference on Monday after the shooting. ((ABC News: Mack heard))
Constable Smith is remembered as a “respected and dedicated” officer.
Mr. Tilley said it was a difficult time for his family and the police.
“As you can imagine, his wife is desperate,” he said.
“They are in a room they never expected.
“This news, this event, has just implemented that family, they have a number of difficult times for them.“
Dangers of police work
Sydney Opera House was illuminated on Tuesday as part of the inaugural National Police Legacy Day, in honor of fallen police officers. ((ABC News: Monish Nand))
It was the first fatal shooting of a police officer in Tasmania since 1922.
It was also the first time that a police officer has been shot in Tasmania since 2006, once a sergeant was shot in the face and twice in the back – and survived – on the Midland Highway near Pontville after a driver.
The perpetrator, Patrick Arthur Burling, was imprisoned for 15 years with a 10-year non-parole period.
Mr. Tilley said that Monday’s shooting was a further reminder of the unpredictable dangers of police work.
“The unfortunate side of the police work is sometimes that we do not know what we stand for, we can do as many background checks as possible,”
he said.
Police commissioner Donna Adams said that a professional standards investigation would be carried out.
“He served with honor”
National Police Legacy Day was Tuesday and the Sydney Opera House was illuminated in the evening with a blue ribbon.
Police stores throughout the country have outspoken sympathies for the police of Tasmania.
“Our deepest condolences go to the family, friends and colleagues of the officer – and to the broader police family,” said the NSW police on social media.
“Our genuine condolences are going to the family, friends and colleagues of the police officer of Tasmania, agent Keith Anthony Smith who died in the line,” wrote the police of Queensland.
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