Two young children’s heartfelt gesture to Sunshine Coast police after the tragic deaths of their colleagues has sparked a rare and special meeting.
Lucy, 7, and Andrew Lottkowitz, 10, were touched at the sight of Constable Rachel McCrow’s beloved blue heeler, Archibald, during her funeral.
Constable McCrow and colleague Constable Matthew Arnold were killed in an ambush at Wieambilla on December 12.
Just before Christmas the Lottkowitzs decided to send police a hand-written card with a drawing of a police dog to show their support and appreciation for the force.
The card read: “Dear Police, I hope you have a dog to help you get the bad guys. I hope you have the best 2023.
“Thank you for saving us. Sorry that your friends died, we are sad as well.”
In response to their kind words, Sunshine Coast district officer Superintendent Craig Hawkins and the police dog squad organised to meet with the family at Cotton Tree Park to thank them and introduce them to one of their furry workmates.
READ MORE: Coast police pay tribute to fallen officers
Holding the lead of retired police dog Anzac, Lucy said they wrote the card because they wanted to let the force know they were doing a great job and share in their sorrow over the devastating incident.
“Their friends and comrades died and it made me feel sad,” she said.
“It was good to come and meet the police doggy today. We are grateful to them.”
Supt Hawkins said the meeting was an opportunity to take the time to reflect on the loss of Constable McCrow and Constable Arnold.
“That time was a really confronting time for all police,” Supt Hawkins said.
“But we received wonderful support and appreciation from the community over that time … that certainly helped our own police with that support that we were receiving.”
Supt Hawkins described the letter as moving, compassionate and caring.
“In that letter they referenced that they hoped that we did have a police dog to get us through those difficult times,” he said.
“We wanted to show them that police out there do have the support we need and we were grateful for not only the support of them and more broadly through the Sunshine Coast community.
“From a police perspective, it has demonstrated the importance of the work that we do.”
He said losing Constable McCrow and Constable Arnold on a routine job was extremely confronting for all officers.
“This was on a job that we do daily and to lose them under those circumstances was absolutely tragic,” he said.
“But the support we got from the community of the Sunshine Coast was absolutely amazing and represented today by what Andrew and Lucy have written in their lovely and caring card.
“It was a good chance to give back to them, to say thank you and that yes, we do have police dogs and many of them, like the good officers on the Sunshine Coast, are working hard to make sure this community is safe.”
He said the fact these young children were supporting police was tremendous.
“They recognise the importance of police and the work that we do – that is wonderful, that gesture really helped police,” Supt Hawkins said.
“We are often dealing with the worst situations when people are at their worst.
“We don’t often see people appreciate the work that we do – it’s not often you see that. This is a great opportunity to reflect on that.”
Police dogs provide a unique support service in their ability to detect drugs, firearms, cash, explosives, blood, human remains and electronic storage devices, as well as with general policing duties.
Thirteen-year-old labrador Anzac was described as a happy boy even though he was retired, living at home with his handler Acting Sergeant Michael Hicks.
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