Matiu Ratana: Last News

The man suspected of killing a police officer in Croydon was described by pals as being “good with weapons” in his school yearbook.

police officer shot dead by a handcuffed suspect in a custody suite worked there because he thought it was safer as he neared ­ his retirement.Tributes have poured in for Sergeant Matiu Ratana, 54.He died after the 23-year-old suspect opened fire at Croydon Custody Centre in south London on Friday.Investigators are looking into how the gunman – being held for possessing ammunition and class B drugs – accessed the weapon.A friend of Sgt Ratana, who was known as Matt, said the officer thought working in the custody suite would be a safer role as he neared the end of his long police career.Neil Donohue said: “He thought it was his safest option just to see him through to his ­retirement and no-one expected this to happen – certainly not within

A Met police officer shot dead by a handcuffed suspect had moved into custody work because he thought it was safer as he approached retirement, a friend said.

police officer who was shot dead by a handcuffed suspect moved into custody work because he thought it was safer as he approached retirement. Tributes have poured in for Metropolitan Police Sergeant Matiu Ratana after a 23-year-old gunman opened fire at Croydon Custody Centre in south London in the early hours of Friday.

A police officer shot dead in South London has been named as Sergeant Matiu Ratana.The 54-year-old died in hospital after a handcuffed suspect opened fire at Croydon Custody Centre in the early hours of Friday.The 23-year-old suspect, who had been arrested for possession of Class B drugs with intent to supply and possession of ammunition, also shot himself during the incident at about 2.15am and is in a critical but stable condition in hospital.No police firearms were fired and the case is not being treated as terror-related.A murder probe has been launched and investigators from the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) watchdog are at the scene.The suspect was arrested by regular officers following a stop and search, then

police station has been named as Sergeant Matiu Ratana.The 54-year-old was fatally wounded after a gunman opened fire at Croydon Custody Centre in the early hours of Friday morning.The rugby-loving policeman, who is originally from New Zealand, has been described as a “long serving officer” and an “inspiration”.The officer, better known as Matt, was named by Metropolitan Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick on Friday night.She said he was "big in stature, big in heart, friendly, capable, a lovely man and highly respected by his colleagues”.She added: “He was a talented police officer, captain of his recruits training class."The sergeant, who joined the Metropolitan Police in 1991, leaves behind his partner and adult son.Community police