POLICE officer Sergeant Matt Ratana was shot dead inside a Croydon police station early on Friday morning.
Sergeant Matt Ratana, 54, was gunned down by a suspect who was reportedly known to terror cops and had been arrested for carrying ammunition just minutes earlier.
The handcuffed man managed to pull a gun from his trousers and shoot the veteran cop dead before turning the gun on himself, causing critical but as yet non-fatal injuries.
New Zealand-born Sgt Ratana, who was shot in the chest, was a father, and a keen rugby player and coach described as a “leader among men” by pals.
Sgt Ratana had moved to safer work in custody as he neared retirement.
He was due to step back from police work in just a few months and had taken on shifts at Croydon Custody Centre.
Pal Neil Donohue, told BBC Breakfast: “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 the police cells.”
Follow our Croydon shooting live blog for the latest news and updates...
