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Croydon police shooting: officer named as Matiu Ratana Croydon police shooting: officer named as Matiu Ratana
(32 minutes later)
Long-serving Metropolitan police officer described as ‘an inspiration’ Long-serving Metropolitan police officer, originally from Hawke’s Bay in New Zealand, described as ‘an inspiration’
Police have named the officer killed at Croydon police station as Matiu Ratana.Police have named the officer killed at Croydon police station as Matiu Ratana.
The 54-year-old officer, known as Matt, had served with the Metropolitan police for nearly 30 years. The 54-year-old officer, known as Matt, had served with the Metropolitan police for nearly 30 years. Ratana, originally from Hawke’s Bay in New Zealand, came to London in 1989, two years before joining the force.
The Metropolitan police commissioner, Dame Cressida Dick, said he was a “much-loved” officer. The Met commissioner, Dame Cressida Dick, said he was a “much-loved” officer.
She said he was known as a “big guy” with a “big heart”. She said: “A lovely man, respected by his colleagues, officers, staff and of course by members of the public, including, I may say, suspects arrested or dealt with in custody.” She said he was known as a “big guy” with a “big heart”. “A lovely man, respected by his colleagues, officers, staff and of course by members of the public, including, I may say, suspects arrested or dealt with in custody,” she said, adding that he leaves behind a partner and an adult son from a previous relationship.
She said he leaves a partner and an adult son from a previous relationship. “He had a fantastic career, he gave 29 years of his life to the public of London; he has now tragically been killed on duty. His service will never be forgotten and we are deeply grateful for it and it is a really distinguished service from a lovely, lovely, much respected police officer,” she said.
“He had a fantastic career, he gave 29 years of his life to the public of London, he has now tragically been killed on duty. His service will never be forgotten and we are deeply grateful for it and it is a really distinguished service from a lovely, lovely, much respected police officer.”
Ratana studied town planning at Massey University in the city of Palmerston North, on New Zealand’s North Island and attended high school in the same city.Ratana studied town planning at Massey University in the city of Palmerston North, on New Zealand’s North Island and attended high school in the same city.
As well as serving as a police officer, Ratana was the head coach for East Grinstead Rugby FC. In a promotional video on the club’s website, Ratana explains that “having previously competed at a national level, one of our goals is to return to the London Leagues”.As well as serving as a police officer, Ratana was the head coach for East Grinstead Rugby FC. In a promotional video on the club’s website, Ratana explains that “having previously competed at a national level, one of our goals is to return to the London Leagues”.
Ratana was described as “an inspiration” by a friend who knew him from playing rugby together.Ratana was described as “an inspiration” by a friend who knew him from playing rugby together.
The 27-year-old, who would only give his name as Paul, said: “We all looked to him – on the field or off the rugby field, he always found a way to gee us up. Losing that is big.The 27-year-old, who would only give his name as Paul, said: “We all looked to him – on the field or off the rugby field, he always found a way to gee us up. Losing that is big.
“The man was a machine. He went from training with us last night to come to his shift work here in Croydon. He would do that week in and week out. He bought into the whole family atmosphere that we had at the club.“The man was a machine. He went from training with us last night to come to his shift work here in Croydon. He would do that week in and week out. He bought into the whole family atmosphere that we had at the club.
“A few of my teammates (on hearing about his death) are just not sure how to take it.”“A few of my teammates (on hearing about his death) are just not sure how to take it.”
The friend, who said the officer was looking forward to retirement, added: “I think he earned his stripes, if you ask me.”The friend, who said the officer was looking forward to retirement, added: “I think he earned his stripes, if you ask me.”
Dick said he joined the force in 1991. “He was posted to Charing Cross, he worked as a constable on the streets of the West End and in Westminster in a variety of roles. Later, he served on our Territorial Support Group across the whole of London, often dealing with the most violent and dangerous criminals. Dick said he joined the force in 1991, starting as the captain of his recruit training class. “He was posted to Charing Cross, he worked as a constable on the streets of the West End and in Westminster in a variety of roles. Later, he served on our territorial support group across the whole of London, often dealing with the most violent and dangerous criminals,” she said.
He worked as a constable in Hillingdon and was promoted to sergeant in 2010 where he worked in Hackney, first of all on a response team. then in a neighbourhood team before moving to Croydon in 2015. He worked as a constable in Hillingdon and was promoted to sergeant in 2010 where he worked in Hackney, first of all on a response team, then in a neighbourhood team before moving to Croydon in 2015.
Community police officer Jacqueline Kufuor told PA news agency that “Sgt Ratana was a lovely guy” and “the nicest man I have ever met”. Community police officer Jacqueline Kufuor told the PA news agency that “Sgt Ratana was a lovely guy” and “the nicest man I have ever met”.
She said: “He was a very lovely man. He was such a nice man. When he sees you, he would just stand and talk to you. He would ask you about your job and how you’re coping and how you are doing out there. So when I ever had issues, I would just talk to him.” “He was a very lovely man. He was such a nice man. When he sees you, he would just stand and talk to you. He would ask you about your job and how you’re coping and how you are doing out there. So when I ever had issues, I would just talk to him,” she said.