The annual Police Remembrance Day commemorations at Nelson Police Headquarters were very moving on Monday as a special memorial was unveiled for Senior Sergeant Lyn Fleming who died after being struck by a car while on foot patrol in Buxton carpark in the early hours of New Year’s Day 2025.
The unveiling by her husband Bryn Olsen, supported by the Fleming and Olsen families, was a reminder that they lost a wife, mother, daughter in this tragedy. Senior Sergeant Fleming was the first Nelson Police Officer killed in the line of service since the first constable started policing our streets in 1886.
Police were well represented by Commissioner Richard Chambers, Police Minister Mark Mitchell and a strong contingent of both past and present Nelson and Tasman Police. Senior Sergeant Fleming was the 34th New Zealand Police Officer killed on duty and the first woman. Her loss was also notable for her 38 years of service to Police and her wider community service as a coach of Nelson College for Girls netball.
The occasion was also well supported by our other services like Fire and Emergency NZ, Hato Hone St John, Civil Defence, Coastguard and Community Patrols. This reflects the respect for Lyn but also the camaraderie and support these organisations provide to each other.
It is fitting that our city has this permanent memorial to Senior Sergent Fleming, appropriately located in front of our Police station. She represented the very best of kiwi values – a commitment to service, a pioneer as a woman Police officer and a mentor and coach for the next generation.
New Zealand was ranked last month as the third safest country in the world, up two spots from a year ago. Nelson rates as one of NZ’s safest cities. This is a reflection of the professionalism and dedication of our Police. They need our support to get over this tragedy.
The best way we can honour the loss of Senior Sergeant Fleming is for every member of our community to respect and support the work of our Police, knowing our 300 officers across Nelson Bays take risks every day to help make our community safe.
