Special memorial to be held today for Met Police sergeant killed on duty
54-year-old Matt Ratana was in the force for almost 30 years
A special memorial service will be held in central London later for Metropolitan police Sergeant Matt Ratana.
The 54-year-old was shot and killed on duty last year in September as he prepared to search a handcuffed suspect at a police station in Croydon.
He is survived by partner Su Bushby and his adult son, who is a police officer in Australia.
The Commissioner, Mayor of London and police colleagues will also gather together with friends and family of Mr Ratana.
The specially invited guests will attend the Royal Military Chapel at Westminster, also known as the Guards Chapel.
Colleagues from many teams across the Met including the dog unit, mounted branch, and Croydon borough will be present within and outside of the chapel.
Commissioner Cressida Dick will walk with Ms Bushby and other specially invited guests from the National Police Memorial on the Mall to the chapel - passing the specially selected 'Guard of Honour' just outside its entrance.
This will be made up of Mr Ratana's fellow sergeants from Met Detention and Croydon borough – his last posting in what was a distinguished 29-year-long career in the force.
Mr Ratana's New Zealand heritage will also play an important role in the service with a Maori hymn sung by Ngati Ranana – a New Zealand cultural group.
A formal handing over of his hat and gloves to his partner Su will also take place inside the chapel.
The memorial event takes the place of the full force funeral that the Met was unable to hold due to the Covid-19 restrictions.
"We will never forget Matt"
Commissioner Cressida Dick said:
"When Matt was sadly taken away from us COVID-19 meant we weren't able to mark his death with a force funeral in the way that we would have wished to afterwards.
"We promised at the time that when restrictions weren't in place we would arrange a special memorial service that would allow us all to come together in Matt's memory, and I am delighted that today, we can finally honour that promise by gathering to pay him tribute.
"Matt has very much been in our thoughts over the last year, both as we grieved for him, but also as we planned for this very special day where we will remember and give thanks for his life. There will be sadness and reflection of course, but also celebration and much joy, for all the many lives he touched and the positivity and dedication with which he served.
"As with all our fallen colleagues, we will never forget Matt and we will continue to honour his legacy, which will live on through his family, his many friends and colleagues in the Met, in his rugby foundation and beyond."