‘Talented’ police officer shot dead in station named as Sgt Matt Ratana, 54
A policeman who died after being shot at a station in Croydon, south London today has been named by as Sgt Matiu Ratana.
The 54-year-old officer, also known as Matt, died in hospital after the gunman, who was being detained opened fire in Croydon Custody Centre during the early hours of Friday.
Investigators are trying to find out how Sgt Ratana was gunned down while the suspect was handcuffed and had his hands behind his back.
It has also been reported that the detainee was a known as a ‘potential terror threat’ and had been referred to the anti-extremist Prevent programme. He is alive in hospital despite turning the gun on himself.
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick said Sgt Ratana was a long-serving and ‘much-loved’ member of the force. She added: ‘He was a talented police officer, captain of his recruits training class.
‘Big in stature, big in heart, friendly, capable, a lovely man and highly respected by his colleagues.’
Explaining how the officer was looking forward to retirement after nearly 30 years on the force, one friend said: ‘I think he earned his stripes, if you ask me.’
Community police officer Jacqueline Kufuor said Sgt Ratana was ‘a lovely guy’ and ‘the nicest man I have ever met’.
She added: ‘He was a very lovely man. He was such a nice man. When he sees you, he would just stand and talk to you.
‘He would ask you about your job and how you’re coping and how you are doing out there. So when I ever had issues, I would just talk to him.’
Sgt Ratana is thought to originally be from New Zealand, and some tributes to him feature a silver fern – seen on the country’s flag.
The officer was described as ‘an inspiration’ by a friend who knew him from playing rugby together at East Grinstead Rugby Club, where he is also listed as a head coach.
The pal, 27, who would only give his name as Paul, said: ‘We all looked to him – on the field or off the rugby field… losing that is big.
‘The man was a machine. He went from training with us last night to come to his shift work here in Croydon. He would do that week in and week out.
‘He bought into the whole family atmosphere that we had at the club.
‘A few of my team-mates (on hearing about his death) are just not sure how to take it.’
The Independent Office for Police Conduct said the murder suspect was in handcuffs when shots were fired in the custody centre.
IOPC regional director Sal Naseem said: ;What we have established is that the man was arrested for possession of class B drugs with intent to supply and possession of ammunition.
‘The man was handcuffed to the rear before being transported to Croydon Custody Suite in a police vehicle where he was escorted into the building. He remained handcuffed to the rear and seated in a holding area in the custody suite.
‘His handcuffs remained in place while officers prepared to search him using a metal detector.
‘It is at the point that shots were fired resulting in the fatal injuries to the officer and critical injuries to the man. A non-police issue firearm, which appears to be a revolver, has been recovered from the scene. Further ballistic work will be required.’
It is also understood that the unnamed suspect was arrested by a special constable and a regular officer after he was seen behaving strangely.
They searched him and allegedly found ammunition on him before taking him into custody in handcuffs.
After being put in a holding cell, he is suspected of opening fire when Sgt Ratana opened the door to get his details.
Scotland Yard are yet to confirm if the suspect was on counter-terrorism police’s radar, as reported by the BBC.
It is thought he had been preferred to the anti-extremist Prevent programme in the past.
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