Fed: Sydney police officer death abominable: Howard

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Fed: Sydney police officer death abominable: Howard

CANBERRA, April 4 AAP - The shooting death of Sydney police officer Glenn McEnallaywas an attack on the moral fabric of the nation, Prime Minister John Howard said today.

Mr Howard said he was personally very distressed and outraged by Senior Constable McEnallay'sshooting and death.

Const McEnallay was shot in the head and chest as he sat in his unmarked police vehiclein the Sydney suburb of Hillsdale last Wednesday.

He died yesterday after a six-day battle in hospital.

Mr Howard said he shared the sense of anger and fury now being expressed by many inthe community towards Const McEnallay's death.

"What happened was abominable and it's an attack on the moral infrastructure of oursociety when somebody going about their policing duties is apparently shot dead in coldblood," he told reporters.

"I think that is such an abominable thing and it distresses me greatly and I can understandthe sense of distress and outrage."

Mr Howard extended his and his government's sympathy to Snr Const McEnallay's familyand members of the NSW Police service.

He said Const McEnallay's death would be very traumatic for other police officers.

"There is something particularly despicable, and particularly blameworthy about themurder of somebody who (is) in uniform performing his duty protecting others," he said.

"It is just a reminder of how dangerous policing is anywhere in Australia.

"It is a reminder of the risks that police officers run.

"I have been quite saddened and sickened by what's occurred."

AAP sw/daw/ns/de

KEYWORD: SHOT HOWARD