First pics released of sergeant shot dead at police station as pals pay tribute
Sgt Matt Ratana served with the Met Police for 28 yearsCredit: Peter Jordan - The SunHeartbroken colleagues left floral tributes at the sceneMatt was passionate rugby fan who coached players Hove Rugby and also East GrinsteadThe 23-year-old suspect, who is believed to have been known to counter-terror cops, is fighting for his life in hospital after shooting himself in the head inside the station.
Sgt Ratana, from Sussex, had served with the Met Police for 28 years after moving to the UK from his native New Zealand and also worked as a rugby coach.His partner of four years Sue Busby was said to be devastated tonight and was being comforted by friends. Amanda said that Matiu, known as Matt, was also a passionate rugby fan who coached players at Hove Rugby and also East Grinstead.
Met officer Stuart James, who raced to help his colleague as he battled for life, described the horror scenes as fellow officers fought to save his life. Community police officer Jacqueline Kufuor burst into tears after laying flowers outside the centre in tribute to her colleague. IOPC regional director Sal Naseem said: "What we have established is that the man was arrested for possession of class B drugs with intent to supply and possession of ammunition.
Questions will be asked on how the gun was apparently missed when the suspect was initially searched, after being seen acting suspiciously in Croydon town centre.Sgt Ratana's colleagues wrote an emotional tribute to him this morning, saying: "Today we lost an honourable, brave and dedicated family member."
"When people get arrested there is a general view that they should be searched before being transported to the police station but that doesn't always happen - and it depends on what the man was arrested for in the first place. This morning forensics could be seen searching in the yard of the custody suite as fellow officers arrived at the scene.Detective Constable Stephen Oake died during a police raid on a flat in Crumpsall, Manchester, in January 2003.
Pc Ricky Gray was shot in the head by a gunman who then turned the weapon on himself in Shrewsbury in 2007. Pc Andrew Harper died when he was caught in a tow rope and dragged along country lanes after trying to stop quad bike thieves in Berkshire in August 2019.
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