Thousands of police officials, friends and family gathered on Wednesday to honour the two brave Queensland police officers who were horrifically gunned down at a rural property.
Constables Matthew Arnold, 26, and Rachel McCrow, 29, were shot dead by former school principal Nathaniel Train, his brother Gareth, and his wife Stacey, at the Train’s rural property in Wieambilla, three hours west of Brisbane, last week.
Neighbour Alan Dare was also killed while fellow officers, Keely Brough and Randall Kirk, managed to make it out alive.
The Trains were later shot dead by police after engaging them in a shootout.
On Wednesday, a state funeral service with full police honours was held for constables Arnold and McCrow at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre.
Despite the funeral not starting until 10am Queensland time, scores of police in uniforms and detectives in suits arrived early to form a kilometre-long guard of honour.
Thousands will gather for a memorial service to honour the two young constables shot dead at a Queensland property last week (pictured, a hearse filled with flowers and a police cap)
A funeral service with full police honours will be held today for Queensland constables Matthew Arnold, 26, and Rachel McCrow, 29
A police convoy followed a hearse containing the casket of one of the Queensland constables
Two police officers were seen paying their respects as the hearse drove towards a building
Around 8,000 people are expected to attend the funeral under heavy security which includes a strict no filming rule of any members of the slain constables’ families.
Free tickets were made available for those wishing to attend on Monday and the service will also be broadcast on television.
Following the ceremony, mounted police, members of the dog squad, a police pipe and drum band and officers in police cars and on motorcycles will form a guard of honour on the road outside.
Private funeral ceremonies for each of the McCrow and Arnold families will be held following the public memorial.
Queensland Police Commissioner Katrina Carroll said the attack was an ‘unimaginable tragedy’.
‘Those officers did not stand a chance. The fact that two got out alive is a miracle,’ she said.
‘Both under 30 years of age. Both had wonderful careers and lives ahead of them.’
Constable Arnold’s triplet sister, Hayley, said she had felt ‘physical heartbreak pain’ since she was told he had been killed.
A large bouquet of white roses had been laid across the casket, along with a police cap
Constable Matthew Arnold was shot dead at point blank range at the remote property
Constable Rachel McCrow was a beautiful person and kind soul, her former partner said
Police on motorcycles tailed the casket of one of the young officers as it arrived on Wednesday
Around 8,000 people are expected to attend the funeral under heavy security which includes a strict no filming rule of any members of constables’ families (pictured, a hearse arrives)
‘There are no words to express our loss,’ Ms Arnold wrote on social media.
‘I can’t begin to explain the love and bond we had. As triplets, we were born together and were meant to grow old together.’
Constable McCrow’s former partner, Luke, told local newspaper the Country Caller she would ‘do anything for you’.
‘I’m absolutely shattered and I don’t just speak for myself but I speak for everyone because Rachel was just a beautiful person,’ he said.
‘You can’t take that away from her and she just didn’t deserve this at all.
‘She was always there to listen, always there to have fun – just a really kind soul and just her as an overall person I think’s hard to come by.’