PSNI officers have remembered their murdered colleague Stephen Carroll on the 16th anniversary of his death.
Mr Carroll (48) was shot dead after terrorists lured police to a call-out in Craigavon on the night of March 9 2009.
He was the first police officer to be killed since the formation of the PSNI.
Two days earlier, two soldiers on duty at Massereene barracks in Antrim, Mark Quinsey and Patrick Azimkar, were killed by the Real IRA.
Today, officers in Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon paid tribute, saying Mr Carroll will be “always remembered”.
“It’s been 16 years since our colleague Stephen Carroll was murdered,” officers said in a post on social media.
“Today we remember a colleague who went to work one day 16 years ago, responded to a call to protect the community and because of the cowardly actions of others, never made it home to his family.
“Today we are thinking of Stephen, a colleague and friend, and keep his wife Kate and the wider Carroll family in our thoughts.”
A colleague who was on duty with Mr Carroll on the night of his murder recalled the events of that night.
“At 9.45pm on March 9 2009, two police cars attended to a call at Lismore Manor in Craigavon,” they recalled.
“A young woman, her children tucked into bed, was sitting in her home when a brick was thrown through the living room window. This, it transpired, a deliberate act to lure police into the area. As anyone would, the householder phoned 999.
“The officers attending knew of an increased threat of an attack in this specific area. More so given the cowardly murder of two young off duty, unarmed soldiers less than 48 hours earlier. They attended this call for help regardless.
“The first car went to the house. As the second car made to turn in the small cul-de-sac, a burst of automatic gunfire struck the vehicle, fatally wounding my driver, Stephen Carroll.
“The vermin who carried out this act quickly skulked off into the darkness, their evil deed done.
“A family robbed of a husband, a son, a brother, a father, a grandfather. A unit robbed of a friend and colleague. Our community robbed of an honest, decent and diligent peeler.
“Sixteen years gone, always remembered.”
Mr Carroll’s colleagues encouraged people to perform small acts of kindness in his memory.
“To all of you who read this. I’d ask one small favour, in memory of my friend,” the post continued.
“Today do one good thing you wouldn’t normally do. Put a pound in a charity box.
“Phone someone you’ve not been in touch with for ages. Make a coffee for your workmates. However small a gesture, do something.
“For a bunch of small, good gestures to sprout from one dreadful act would be a fitting way to remember Stevie.”
After Mr Carroll’s murder, the then Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde said the PSNI would not be stopped by dissident republicans.
The First and deputy First Ministers, Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness, also joined in condemnation.
Mr McGuinness branded those responsible “traitors to the island of Ireland”.
Brendan McConville and John Paul Wootton are serving life sentences after being convicted of Mr Carroll’s murder.