SAPOL supported a number of special services this year in acknowledgement of ANZAC Day.
SAPOL members who lost their lives while serving overseas with Australia’s armed forces and United Nations peace-keeping contingents were remembered at SAPOL’s ANZAC Memorial Service held at the Wall of Remembrance, South Australia Police Academy on Friday 22 April 2022.
Police Chaplain, The Reverend Collin Heslop officiated at the memorial service which commemorated the ultimate sacrifice made by the 25 police officers killed on active service leave from SAPOL. This includes 11 police officers who lost their lives in World War I, 13 officers in World War II, and one officer who was killed in Cyprus while on peace-keeping duties with the United Nations.
The service included an address to help evoke the spirit of the ANZACs, read by Dr Barry Blundell, APM LEM. This year the address featured Junior Constable Vivian Lewis Pope who served his community and nation, going from police officer to airman before making the ultimate sacrifice.
Those in attendance at the memorial service included Commissioner of Police, Grant Stevens, The Hon Joseph Szakacs MP, Minister for Police, Emergency and Correctional Services, Mr Tim Whetstone MP the Shadow Minister for Police, Emergency and Correctional Services and Commander Emma McDonald-Kerr, ADC,M RAN, Commanding Officer- Royal Australian Navy.
In addition, the South Australia Police Band and members of the Mounted Operations Unit had the honour of leading the annual Anzac Day march yesterday as veterans, Australian Defence Force units, bands, Descendant Groups and spectators proudly marched through the city. This was the first time that bands could resume participating in the march since the emergency of the COVID-19 pandemic.
As well as the above services, SAPOL officers participated in and supported a number of ANZAC Day services across the state.
Photos above from SAPOL’s ANZAC Memorial Service at the South Australia Police Academy
