Loading
He said police had taken a lot of comfort from the ongoing community support they’ve received throughout the year.
“I thank every one of my members right across Victoria for what they do,” Mr Patton said.
The traditional September 29 memorial service went online this year due to coronavirus restrictions.
There,families of the fallen paid touching tributes to those killed.
All had a common theme – a dedication,commitment and a love of the job.
At 10.44am,police officers in their stations and homes across the state paused for a minute's silence to honour all those who've made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.
"You have fought the good fight,life's race has been run,and peace your reward,for eternity begun,"Assistant Commissioner Libby Murphy read from the Police Ode.
"Rest in peace friend and colleague for the sun has now set."
Senior Police Chaplain Jim Jung,who led the service,said 170 Victoria Police officers have paid the ultimate price for their service throughout the history of Victoria Police,their names forever enshrined on the wall of remembrance at the police memorial.
"May we that remain keep their memory alive and surround their families with love and protection,"he said.
Premier Daniel Andrews said he hoped adding the names of Leading Senior Constable Taylor,Senior Constable King,Constable Prestney and Constable Humphris would forever remind Victorians of their bravery and the ultimate sacrifice they made.
"As the Premier of the state,can I say to you that my thoughts and prayers will be with their families today and with every police member and every police family on what will be a very challenging Police Remembrance Day,"he said.
"To live your life in the service and protection of others is an amazing thing. To lose your life doing that work is a terrible tragedy.
Loading
"Our thoughts and prayers and best wishes are with every police member and every police family today."
Mr Andrews reiterated that,pending the wishes of the families,there would be a public ceremony to remember the four officers once COVID-19 restrictions allowed for it – hopefully in early 2021.
"I'd be very confident that Victorians would come to a service like that and would participate just to say thank you to those families and to every police family."
The 23 names added to the honour role this year also include:Emily Cavanagh,David Phoebe,Senior Sergeant Jeffrey Haines,Sergeant Anthony McDonnell,Sergeant Paul Kirk,Graeme Bailey,Leading Senior Constable Geoffrey Lamb,retired chaplain Ken Agnew,Sergeant Shona O'Connor,Debbie Burnett,Detective Leading Senior Constable Tania Muller,Leading Senior Constable Michael Campbell,Senior Sergeant Trevor Lockwood,Senior Constable Glenn Paton,Lea Croydon,Leading Senior Constable Heath Martin,Barry Kotze,Leading Senior Constable John Miller,Amber Mackenzie.