Tuesday 31 May 2011

In The Line Of Duty



I don't like being melancholy in my writing, and I rarely comment or touch upon current events. However my sorrow today is real, the shock I feel is real, and I think the only way to somehow alleviate it, is to write about it.

I live just a stone's throw from the Gold Coast here in Australia - South Brisbane. It's a world away from the streets of Glasgow through which I plodded as a Police Officer back in the late 70's early 80's.  But criminals are more or less the same the world over. Since moving to Australia I've had reason to 'call the cops' a few times - and each time they have dealt with my problem professionally and courteously. I have a huge admiration for them and especially the 'jovial' way they go about their business here.

Yesterday an armed robbery took place on the Gold Coast and hostages were taken - responding to the alarm Police Officer Damian Leeding and his partner Nikki Jackson were first on the scene. Constable Leeding, a new father to his second child, was shot in the face and head before even getting through the door of the hotel involved. A brave man, he didn't think twice about confronting the danger facing him, or the responsibility he had in ensuring the safety of the hostages.

They are talking about turning off his life support as early as this afternoon.

I want him to pull through, as everyone does.

God bless you Constable Leeding, God bless you.

Update - Tragically, Constable Leeding passed away at approximately 1pm today after his life support machine was switched off. He leaves behind a Widow Sonya (also a serving Police Officer) and two young children.

Constable Leeding died fulfilling the motto of Queensland Police - "With Honour We Serve"




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7 comments:

  1. Always so hard when one of these brave men and women of our police or fire teams are injured or killed in the line of duty. When Constable Leeding reaches the gates he will be in magnificent company. We will keep him in our thoughts today.

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  2. I'm new to your blog and I'm very sorry to hear about Officer Leeding. I will think of him and his family in my prayers.

    Mary

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  3. Should Constable Leeding's family ever venture this way - I hope your messages add to the knowledge they must surely have, of just how ordinary people feel about such tragedies and in particular this one. He is a brave man and it reduces me to tears that his young family may have already have lost him. I hope he fights back with all his might to a full recovery but sadly, it's not looking good.

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  4. Update - Tragically, Constable Leeding passed away at approximately 1pm today after his life support machine was switched off. He leaves behind a Widow Sonya (also a serving Police Officer) and two young children.

    Constable Leeding died living up to the motto of Queensland Police - "With Honour We Serve"

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  5. This is so horrific. To all the men and women who selflessly serve others, I am so grateful. I pray for Constable Leeding's family in this dark time.

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  6. So sorry to hear about this. His family will be in my prayers.

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  7. That is such a sad, terrible story. My heart goes out to his family.

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