The family of a Yamatji woman who was shot and killed by a Western Australia police officer two months ago has farewelled the mother of one amidst a heavy police presence.
On Friday, family and friends of Ms Joyce Clarke laid her body to rest at a funeral in Carnarvon, around 900 kilometres north fo Perth, with locals criticising the number of police brought into the town from elsewhere in teh state.
Around 50 additional police officers, including the mounted police unit from Perth, arrived in Carnarvon ahead of Ms Clarke’s funeral.
Les Cook from the Carnarvon Aboriginal Medical Services told ABC Midwest that he believed the number of police who had arrived in town was unwarranted.
“I personally think it’s a bit of an overkill," he said. "Especially bringing police horses and the likes."
In September, an officer who was en-route to a call out in the suburb of Karloo in Geraldton, four hours north of Perth, fatally shot the 29-year-old.
Ms Clarke was taken by ambulance to the Geraldton Regional Hospital but later died from the gunshot wound.
On Friday, at a media conference before the funeral service, Regional WA Assistant Commissioner Jo McCabe said the extra officers were seconded to the town to support the family of Ms Clarke.
Following Ms Clarke's death, her mother, Anne Jones, told that she had not received the support she was promised from the state .
“The police and the Commissioner said they were going to do this and that and they’ve done nothing,” said Ms Jones.
“I’m very disappointed by police ... I still haven’t got any answers from them.”
National Suicide Prevention and Trauma Recovery Project director, Megan Krakouer has provided support for the family and told NITV News they have been left traumatised.
“The families of Ms Clarke have endured an unnecessarily long and excoriating journey to the funeral with the long wait with the coroner,” Ms Krakouer said.
“It is traumatic for the family to not even know who the police officer is who shot Ms Clarke. In my long experience, that is unheard of,” she said.
A WA Police spokesman newspaper that senior police had been liaising closely with Ms Clarke’s family to provide support.
“Regarding travel arrangements for Ms Jones, family members were referred to the appropriate government agencies and arrangements made,” he said.
“On other matters, a family liaison officer has had frequent ongoing contact with Ms Jones.”
The officer who shot Ms Clarke remains stood down from duties pending the outcome of an on-going investigation into the incident.
