LOXTON residents have paid tribute to the five police officers who tragically lost their lives within the last fortnight.
South Australia police Chief Superintendent Joanne Shanahan sadly died after she was involved in a three-car collision in Urrbrae last Saturday.
Her death followed the loss of four Victorian officers – leading Senior Constable Lynette Taylor, Senior Constable Kevin King, Constable Glen Humphris and Constable Josh Prestney – who passed after a truck ploughed into them on Wednesday, April 22.
As a tribute to their service, local residents have tied blue ribbons around trees on East Terrace, and laid flowers at the ‘blue tree’ on Snake Island.
Loxton local Martina Roberts said in such trying times, the officers’ deaths were a tragedy.
“I think what that man in the Porsche said to that lady dying, that’s unforgivable,” she said.
“I just can’t get that out of my head actually.
“Even that policewoman in Adelaide dying a few days later – that was horrific too.”
Ms Roberts, who was responsible for the flowers at the blue tree, said the community knows the police in the area and has connections with them.
She believes this is why the recent deaths have had such an impact on locals.
“I think most people would be quite devastated about it,” Ms Roberts said.
“They’re family members and they’ve got families, and it’s just something so senseless when you think about it.
“They were at the wrong place at the wrong time unfortunately.”
Ms Roberts said the small tribute, given the circumstances, is all she could think to do to honour the fallen officers.
“I just feel it’s paying respect to all the police for what they do,” she said.
“A lot of people bag the police, and I’m not sucking up to them or anything, but they’ve got a hard job to do.
“I think they all do a wonderful job, especially with the times at the moment.”
District of Loxton Waikerie Council CEO David Beaton declined to comment.