Man charged after cop shot dead
A man has been charged with murder after a police officer was shot and killed in rural Tasmania on Monday.
Constable Keith Smith was killed as he and a colleague attempted to serve a court-ordered repossession warrant on a property near the small town of North Motton in Tasmania's northwest.
The alleged gunman was shot by another police officer before being arrested.
Tasmanian Police on Thursday charged a 46-year-old man with murder, attempted murder and aggravated assault.
The North Motton man appeared in a bedside court sitting at Launceston Hospital. He will reappear in court at a later date.
He remains under guard in hospital where he is receiving medical attention for non-life-threatening injuries.
Tasmania Police Commissioner Donna Adams thanked those involved in the ongoing investigation for their dedication and professionalism.
Commissioner Adams earlier said the two uniformed officers were accompanied by three members of Tasmania Police Special Operations Group (SOG) for a 'frontline assist deployment' before the incident.
'On arrival at the property, the two police officers exited their police vehicle and shortly thereafter constable Keith Smith was tragically shot and killed,' the Commissioner alleged.
'Having heard the gunshots, the three members of SOG transitioned to their tactical kit, placed on their body armour, changed their weaponry and made their way up the driveway where they heard the shots had been fired.'
'An SOG operative was able to swiftly apprehend the offender after shooting him in the hand.'
A memoriam page for Constable Smith has been uploaded to the Tasmania Police website, where members of the public can offer condolences to his family and colleagues.
'Keith was an experienced and well-respected officer with 25 years' experience working in northern and western Tasmania,' the page said.
'He received the Commissioner's Medal in 2011, and 20-year clasp in 2021, as well as the National Police Service Medal in 2016.'
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