About 100 people gathered at the Sacred Heart Church on Friday, including members of the Wangaratta Highway Patrol.

The traffic members lost their colleague, Leading Senior Constable Gavin Frew, last weekend and paid special tribute to the jovial and much-liked officer during the service.

The police officers saluted their late friend, with candles lit in his memory and others who have passed away.

The annual event, which is held across the country, recognises those who have lost their lives during service.  

Superintendent Paul O’Halloran said the nature of the job could have an impact on officers.

“It’s always a significant day for police men and women around the country and for us just recently, with the recent tragic death of one our police officers last Saturday, it’s particularly hard,” he said.

“I suppose it really does hit home.

“I was just talking to a colleague from the military before and we were talking about how our jobs are the same but different.

“Same in relation to the risk that we face, different in the fact police are always on an operational footing, and that there’s this continual anxiety of responding to high risk incidents.”

Superintendent O’Halloran said Victoria Police had services in place for officers who were struggling. 

“But at the end of the day, it’s about really caring for people and looking after our staff, and making sure they are able to cope,” he said. 

He extended his sympathies to Leading Senior Constable Frew’s family, who attended the service and spoke to his colleagues. 

“Gavin Frew from the Wangaratta Highway Patrol was a terrific guy, a really, really bright personality, a larger than life character,” Superintendent O’Halloran said. 

“He will be really sorely missed.

“I think it’s come as a complete shock to everyone, for me, for his work colleagues, and particularly for his family. 

“I’d just like to pass on my sincere sympathies and we’re all very, very saddened by it.” 

Albury Superintendent Evan Quarmby said it was a difficult day. 

“It’s important for people to realise the police are out there every day and every night, regardless of the weather, doing their job and doing an extraordinary job, sometimes doing the sort of tasks that people don't even want to think exists,” he said. 

"But they're out there every day doing their thing for the community.”

A Victorian police officer who is raising money to fight PTSD is encouraging people to put their hand up and seek help if they need it.

Detective Acting Sergeant Glenn Holland runs an online support page raising awareness of the disorder.

He said the most important thing for emergency service workers to do was speak out.

“Get out and talk,” Detective Acting Sergeant Holland said.

“That’s the main thing.

“With Gavin’s passing, it sort of brings up memories of other police members and what they’ve gone through, and the work-life balance.

“My campaign is to try to get our Victoria Police members to open up, speak up, seek help.”

He said two officers had taken their own lives in the past month.

The main impediment to people seeking help was the risk of losing their position, Detective Acting Sergeant Holland said. 

“They want to keep being a police officer,” he said. 

“They don’t want to have the stigma of having a problem. 

“The police department has now started with their mental health strategy and the welfare unit has qualified psychologists on-board. 

“There is support, but the more support we can get, the better it is.” 

The Police Federation of Australia is also running a campaign to recognise the mental health problems faced by officers. 

President Mark Carroll earlier this month said the incidents faced by officers could often have long lasting and damaging psychological impacts. 

“This work environment, coupled with a culture that values stoicism and self-reliance, can adversely impact upon the officer’s mental health, and contribute to high rates of post-traumatic stress disorder and depression,” he said. 

“As the cost of psychological injuries continue to rise, jurisdictions are using resources that could otherwise be used on crime prevention and law enforcement measures. 

“Growing this awareness and understanding– and doing away with the stigma that surrounds mental ill health – will require a significant cultural change right across our profession.”