Fallen police officers remembered in solemn ceremony

Fallen police officers were remembered at a solemn ceremony near Wellington today.

The force's Remembrance Day service at the National Police College in Porirua included some family members of officers who died in the line of duty.

Police Commissioner Mike Bush told those gathered that September 29 was a "poignant" day in the police calendar.

"It is indeed a solemn day, but I think we should take time out today, most appropriately, to acknowledge the achievements of those people and what they have done [for] their communities."

He said 29 officers had been slain on duty since the New Zealand police force was established in 1886.

Their names were read at the ceremony as were, for the first time, the names of 39 people who died "as a result of their duties in the New Zealand police."

Also today, the names of 73 active or retired officers and polices employees who had died in the past year were read out.

"Our people, they come from a diverse background - many walks of life - but they have one thing in common. Since 1886 the New Zealand police has had one purpose and that's to keep New Zealand safe," Mr Bush said.

"That's what we should acknowledge; their commitment, their achievements, what they have done for New Zealand.

"They are a very very important part of the New Zealand police whanau. We are indeed a family, but they are so much more... they were parents, mothers and fathers. They were sons and daughters, sisters and brothers, friends and neighbours."

It is also Remembrance Day in Australia and the South Pacific and Mr Bush paid tribute to five officers in Papua New Guinea who died in the line of duty last year.