Floral tributes have been laid and flags flown at half mast in memory of Sergeant Jason Doig, a South Australian police officer who was shot dead last night when responding to the reported use of a firearm. Image source: Raw Pixel
The members of the local community and the South Australian Police have paid tribute to Brevet Sergeant Jason Doig (53), a police officer killed in regional South Australia overnight, describing him as an experienced and “highly respected” officer.
At around 11:20pm, Sergeant Doig, along with two other officers, responded to the reported use of a firearm involving an animal at a remote property in Senior — a location in South Australia’s upper south-east, close to the Victorian border.
A 26-year-old man at the property allegedly shot Sergeant Doig and Sergeant Michael Hutchinson, before the suspect himself was shot and apprehended.
Sergeant Hutchenson received non-life-threatening injuries and is recovering in hospital, with the third officer, Constable Rebekah Cass, not being injured during the incident.
The alleged shooter received life-threatening injuries, and is also currently in hospital, under police guard.
SA Police Commissioner Grant Stevens described Sergeant Doig’s death as “a devastating day for South Australia Police.”
“It’s with a great deal of sadness that I have to report in the early hours of this morning, a South Australian police officer was tragically killed in the line of duty.
“This is an incredibly tragic incident for the South Australia Police and I can only imagine what the family of Jason are feeling,” said Commissioner Stevens.
“No-one is left untouched by this tragic incident. There wouldn’t be one single police officer today who wouldn’t be thinking about the sacrifice that Jason has made.”
Sergeant Doig was in charge of Lucindale Police Station, roughly 140 kilometres south of the property the shooting occurred.
Mayor of Naracoorte Lucindale Council, Patrick Ross described Sergeant Doig as a “great community copper” who cared about the lives of the local community.
“He never, ever wanted any of his community members to die for something that they may have overlooked — for example, drink driving,” said Ross.
“Small country town, one pub — Jason would go in in the evening and say, ‘Boys, I’m on duty in an hour, I think you should all think about making your way home or making sure you’ve got someone to take you home’.
“That’s the sort of bloke he was.”
Flags across South Australia’s have been flown at half mast and floral tributes laid in memory of Sergeant Doig.
