Croydon police officer shooting LIVE: Matt Ratana moved to custody to be ‘safer’ and work final months before - The Sun

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."

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2020-09-26 11:52:00Z
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