Hundreds of people poured into the Royal New Zealand Police College north of Wellington this morning to remember police staff who lost their lives while on duty.
Each year Police Remembrance Day is observed by the New Zealand, Australian and Pacific police force to remember officers who were slain in the line of duty, serving staff who died in the past year, and former staff who died in the past year.
Since 1890, 29 police officers have been killed while on duty, with three of them being killed in the past three years.
Police Commissioner Peter Marshall and Police Minister Judith Collins both spoke to the large crowd of the role police officers played in society and their courage and commitment given to the job.
They both also took the time to mention the death of New Zealand's second SAS soldier in Afghanistan yesterday. Leon Smith was shot in the head and died enroute to hospital in Afghan's capital of Kabul.
At today's service Ms Collins said Police Remembrance Day was a chance to remember those who died in the pursuit of a better, more peaceful and safer New Zealand.
"Today we reflect on those who are gone and celebrate their legacy that lives on...their courage and sacrifice will never be forgotten.''
Pamela Maree Brien was one of those remembered today. She was killed in the CTV building in Christchurch during the February earthquake where she was at a meeting as part of the child protection unit.
Her daughter, Amie Booker, gave a reading from the Bible at the service.
Four wreaths were then placed at the foot of the Memorial Wall at the College by Ms Collins, Mr Marshall, and deputy commissioners Mike Bush and Viv Rickard.
Similar services were also played out around the country, including one in central Hastings where up to 60 police marched from the police station to the Hastings RSA.
Napier Police Inspector Kevin Kalff said as many officers as were able to attend turned out, including members of the dog unit.
For many, their thoughts would be of Senior Constable Len Snee _ their colleague who was shot and killed by Jan Molenaar during the Napier siege in May, 2009. He was the last police officer to be killed on the job.
The two other officers who received serious gunshot injuries in the siege, Senior Constables Bruce Miller and Grant Diver were expected to be among those who marched.
