Video footage from the scene of a double shooting shows just how dangerous policing can be, according to the head of the union.
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Joshua Clavell was shot after ramming a police car at Richardsons Bend in Barnawartha North on June 12 last year.
He had been staying with his younger brother, Joel, at the campground for Ramadan and was wanted by counter terrorism police.
Joel stalked police while ducking behind the rammed police vehicle, and was shot - and nearly died - after charging at officers with a hatchet.
Police Association of Victoria Wayne Gatt said the footage, played in the County Court on Thursday, gave the public an insight into the job's dangers.
"I think what it does is highlights the work our members do each and every day and the dangerous and unpredictable nature of policing," he said.
"The video footage shows our members in a situation that confronts them regularly.
"On this occasion, they were confronted by people who sought to harm them - they wanted to kill them or seriously injure them.
"They had to respond with force to save themselves."
The footage shows the North East officers trying to talk Joel into disarming himself as he said he wanted to become a Martyr.
Capsicum spray and a taser failed to subdue him, before firearms were used.
Sergeant Gatt said police had worked to save the pair's lives moments after Joel was shot.
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Judge Martine Marich said the actions of a Rutherglen officer in applying a tourniquet had probably saved the younger man's life.
"They were trying to save the life of the same people that had moments earlier tried to harm them," Sergeant Gatt said.
"This speaks volumes of their courage, their commitment, their professionalism and their character.
"We're very proud of the work our police do.
"The vision perhaps opens a window for people to look into a world they sometimes don't understand and rarely get a chance to see."
Sergeant Gatt said the police had used "every possible avenue to try to resolve the situation peacefully".
The pair have remained in custody since the day.
Joel pleaded guilty to seven charges and Joshua to two charges on Thursday.
Joel's lawyer, Melinda Walker, asked that the 20-year-old be released on a community corrections order given the time he had already served.
While the incident was Joel's first interaction with police, his older brother has spent time in jail.
Their father, Rodney Clavell, killed himself during a siege with police inside an Adelaide brothel in 2014.
The case will return to the court on June 15 for further plea.
