Fifty years to the day, Invercargill stopped to remember the only police officer ever killed in the line of duty in this city.
A memorial plaque was unveiled today near the corner of Dee and Esk streets — the spot where Constable Peter Murphy was shot while responding to an armed burglary on 25 September 1976. Murphy was taken to Southland Hospital, where he died. He was 21 years old. He had graduated from Police College just a year earlier.
Murphy's family, serving and former police officers, city councillors and Mayor Tom Campbell gathered at the site this morning for the ceremony.
Mayor Campbell didn't mince words about what the day meant. "Constable Murphy was a young officer who gave his life while protecting our city. Fifty years on, we have not forgotten his sacrifice," Campbell said. "This plaque serves as a lasting tribute to Constable Murphy's service and a powerful reminder of the risks our police officers continue to face while protecting our community today."
Southland Police Area Commander Inspector Mike Bowman said the tribute was well overdue. "Constable Murphy lost his life doing what our staff do every single day — keeping the public safe. It's an amazing tribute to have his sacrifice memorialised in our city. It serves as a reminder for not only police officers but our whole community to acknowledge the important job police officers have and the potential risks it carries," Bowman said.
Among the crowd was former Constable John Cox, who was standing beside Murphy when he was shot. Cox helped identify the right location for the plaque. He carried the weight of that day for five decades, and he made that plain.
"After a packed church service, we accompanied Peter on the flight to Wellington and were able to remain beside him at the front of the plane," Cox said. "At his burial in Lower Hutt, Peter was given a full guard of honour by many uniformed Police officers. I was honoured to receive the Police flag from his coffin and present it to his parents."
He paused on what was lost. "Peter was a wonderful young man. He would have developed into a great policeman, but he was never given that chance. We sadly miss him."
Campbell said the plaque was meant to carry the story forward — not just for those who lived through it. "For those who remember that time, this plaque provides a place to pause and reflect. For younger generations or those who had not yet made Invercargill home, it will help tell the story of what happened here on 25 September 1976," he said. "Unveiling the plaque today, on the 50th anniversary, is a fitting way to honour Constable Murphy and ensure he is remembered for the next 50 years and beyond."