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The Minister for Police and Corrective Services, the Honourable Mark Ryan MP, the Member for Lytton, Joan Pease, and Commissioner Ian Stewart today attended the naming ceremony for two new Water Police vessels.

Minister Ryan said the new vessels illustrate the Palaszczuk Government’s commitment meet the community’s expectations and deliver cutting edge technology.

“These new vessels improve the present and future operational capabilities of the Queensland Water Police.

“The naming of the vessels after Sergeant Dan Stiller and Constable Casey Blain is a fitting commemoration for these officers,” Minister Ryan said.

The Member for Lytton welcomed the new vessels as an important boost for people in the community.

“These vessels are a commitment of the State Government to ensure our police service continues to be equipped with state-of-the-art equipment to ensure they are as effective and efficient as they can possibly be to keep the community safe,” Ms Pease said.

Commissioner Stewart said the new vessels would have multiple roles in their lifetimes and were constructed to meet the changing needs of policing in a vast, decentralised and largely coastal state such as Queensland.

“The Queensland Police Service is continually striving to improve the resources available to its officers to ensure they can meet the community’s needs,” Commissioner Stewart said.

The 11.3 metre patrol vessel Stern Drive was named ‘QPV Dan Stiller’ in honour of Sergeant Daniel Arthur Stiller who served with the QPS from October 2001 until his tragic death from a traffic incident on December 1, 2010.

The new vessel will provide offshore capabilities with a 1500 litre fuel tank and an endurance of approximately 15 hours at a cruising speed of 24 knots. This modern Class Two police vessel will provide essential waterborne capabilities for general duty officers as well as the traditional roles of search and rescue and law enforcement. This vessel replaces the previous ‘QPV P.G. Kidd’ 12 metre patrol vessel.

A de-commissioning ceremony for the family of Peter Kidd was previously held for the retirement of the vessel named in his honour and the retirement of Peter Kidd’s name from further QPS vessels.

The 11.3 metre tactical response vessel was named ‘QPV Casey Blain’ in honour of Constable Casey Blain who served with the QPS from May 2009 until his tragic death from a traffic incident on March 29, 2013. This vessel replaces the current tactical vessel at Water Police Brisbane. With a top speed in excess of 50 knots, the tactical vessel will provide essential waterborne capabilities to specialist officers and the Special Emergency Response Team (SERT).