'As selfless as they come': Families and friends pay tribute to officers killed in crash
Tributes have flooded in for the four police officers killed when a truck ploughed into them as they stood in an emergency lane on a Melbourne highway tending to an alleged drug driver.
The officers died after the alleged driver of a Porsche 911, Richard Pusey, 41, was pulled over for speeding on the Eastern Freeway at Kew, in the city’s east, just after 4.50pm on Wednesday.
Leading Senior Constable Lynette Taylor, Constable Glen Humphris, Senior Constable Kevin King and Constable Josh Prestney all died when the truck hit them about 5.40pm.
Family members and grateful residents took to social media and placed flowers at police stations on Thursday to honour the respected officers.
Leading Senior Constable Lynette Taylor
Snr Const. Lynette Taylor had a distinguished 31-year career with Victoria Police after joining in January 1989, and was remembered “for having a great sense of adventure” which she instilled in her children.
She is survived by her husband, former Victoria Police officer Stuart Schultz, and their two sons, Nathan and Alexander.
She was also recognised as having a caring nature, having become the primary carer for her sister after a recent stroke.
“Lynette had a reputation of going into bat for others and challenging decisions that she believed were unfair,” an obituary said.
Constable Glen Humphris
Constable Humphris had worked as an apprentice carpenter before deciding to become a personal trainer.
He then joined the police force in 2019 after moving to Melbourne from NSW with his partner of four years, Todd.
“Glen performed extremely well during his time at the Police Academy. His results in both examinations and assessments were well above average and he narrowly missed out on the Highest Academic Achiever Award for his squad,” an obituary said.
“His squad mates said he genuinely wanted to help people, had a great sense of community and genuine empathy for everyone – victim and offender alike.
“Glen is remembered as being very level-headed, caring and supportive with a great sense of humour and had the ability to make light of any situation to calm people.”
Posts on social media described him as “one of a kind” and said he was “gone way too soon”.
One person said “that smile of yours will be dearly missed”, while another wished him to “fly high”.
Senior Constable Kevin King
Leading Senior Constable Kevin King had been a serving member of Victoria Police for six years and had a passion for road policing.
After transferring to Nunawading Highway Patrol in 2018, the officer in charge said he was “an older head with a lot of life experience who always made a good judgement calls and decisions”.
“He was a terrific bloke. A lovely, all round good bloke who took to road policing immediately,” the officer in charge said, according to an obituary.
“He would do anything in his power to not let you down. He always just wanted to laugh, have a good time, and talk about footy. It’s just devastating to lose a bloke like that.”
Senior Constable King was a 50-year-old father of three who was respected by his colleagues. He is survived by his wife Sharron Mackenzie, and their three children, William, James and Henry.
Relatives remembered him a “true family man” and said he was “as selfless as they come”.
His nephew Jackson King said his uncle was a “brilliant police officer, and an even better man” in a post on social media.
“I will forever cherish the memories we shared, especially going to the footy with the boys. You were always bubbly yet calm, and as selfless as they come. You were a true family man,” he wrote.
Jackson pleaded with motorists to “drive safely and obey all road rules, because all it takes is one mistake, one careless act, and someone may lose their life, and a family is torn apart forever”.
“He was killed while simply doing his job. Road rules are in place for a reason. Police officers are there to protect our communities and to keep us safe, not to spoil our fun,” he said.
Constable Josh Prestney
Constable Prestney’s grandmother said the rookie officer was only in his second day on the job.
Eliza Anderson told the Herald Sun her 28-year-old grandson was “so proud to serve” and had only graduated from the police academy in December.
“We were so proud of you. God bless Josh. Miss you forever,” she wrote on Facebook.
An obituary released by Victoria Police says he was a much loved and respected member of his squad.
His brother is also a police officer and presented Constable Prestney with a badge when he graduated.
In his spare time, Constable Prestney enjoyed keeping fit and competed in triathlons.
He is survived by his parents Andrew and Belinda, and his brother, First Constable Alex Prestney.
Constable Prestney was completing his placement with Nunawading Highway Patrol while on a Probationary Constable Extended Training Scheme at Boroondara.
Public tributes for fallen officers
Members of the public on Thursday delivered flowers and gifts to police stations across Victoria thanking the officers for their service and offering condolences to their colleagues and families.
Melbourne landmarks including Flinders Street Station, Melbourne Town Hall, AAMI Park, Marvel Stadium, the NGV, Arts Centre, Crown Towers and Victoria Police headquarters were lit up in blue to honour them.
“Our thoughts are with you all at this time of dreadful loss,” a handwritten letter on a bouquet of flowers placed outside Boroondara Police Station read.
“Grateful for your service and so so sorry for the loss of your colleagues. Thoughts are with your community,” another note attached so some flowers read.
A Facebook group has also been established so the community can mourn the loss of the officers, as a public service will not be going ahead in the near future due to the coronavirus pandemic.
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