Today, Police Minister Mark Ryan, Commissioner Ian Stewart, the Forte family, friends and colleagues gathered at the Queensland Police Service Academy, Oxley, for the tree planting and memorial plaque dedication ceremony, in memory of the late Senior Constable Brett Forte, Queensland Police say.
The ceremony took place in the Avenue of Remembrance, a significant part of the Queensland Police Academy, where the QPS commemorates police officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
It serves as a reminder of the sacrifice, bravery and dedication to duty of those members of the service we have lost, it also represents a token of respect to their families.
To date, there is 68 dedicated memorials in the Avenue of Remembrance, all that represent fallen officers throughout QPS history. Today Senior Constable Brett Forte was remembered as the latest addition to this Avenue of Remembrance.
Together, Stuart Forte (Brett’s Father), Acting Deputy Commissioner Tony Wright and Assistant Commissioner Mike Condon planted the Jacaranda tree in memory of Senior Constable Brett Forte.
Commissioner Ian Stewart led, Brett’s wife Susan Forte and her two son’s to unveil the memorial plaque.
As the ceremony came to a end, the QPS flag was lowered to half-mast and a minute silence was held.
Commissioner Ian Stewart acknowledged the importance of today’s ceremony and said that the QPS will never forget, as his memory will live on.
“Today, is a important day for the Queensland Police Service as we commemorate the life of a wonderful officer, someone who gave 16 years of his life to the community of Queensland, before it was tragically cut short,”
“Today we acknowledge Brett Forte, by placing the Jacaranda tree in the Avenue of Remember at our academy. We also have unveiled a plaque in Brett’s honour,” Commissioner Stewart said.
“It is important for our culture, for our people to know, that we will never forget,”
“The tree, being a national and global symbol of life, is something that we have used today to show that Brett’s lives on, in the hearts and minds not only of his family but of all members of the Queensland Police Service.”
