BENDIGO Police have thanked to community members offering support after four officers died on Wednesday night.
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Police posted thanks on the Bendigo Police Service Area Eyewatch page on Thursday.
It followed the death of four Victoria Police officers in a crash on Melbourne's Eastern Freeway on Wednesday night.
Flags sat at half mast outside the Bendigo station.
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Bendigo police thanked community members who had arranged the delivery of flowers or sent messages to show support, in the Facebook post.
It included images of cards extending condolences to officers and flowers sent.
"We are each touched by this tragedy and are all grateful for your show of support," the post reads.
Police Association Secretary Wayne Gatt said while the incident occurred in Melbourne, its effects would be felt in every station around the state.
"The ripple effect was within minutes felt in far flung reaches of the state," Mr Gatt said.
"In Bendigo, in Mildura, in the far east, all of those stations would have known ... that their colleagues, somebody else wearing the uniform, had paid the ultimate sacrifice.
"They will be, as small communities of police, as part of a larger community of police, coming together and supporting each other."
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Mr Gatt said it was hard to reconcile for police that they had lost four colleagues at once.
He said he could not begin to imagine the feelings of the families affected by the deaths.
The officers have been named as Leading Senior Constable Lynette Taylor, Constable Glen Humphris, Senior Constable Kevin King and Constable Josh Prestney.
Two were stationed at Nunawading Highway Patrol, two at the Road Policing Drug and Alcohol Section.
Two were part of the probationary constable extended training scheme.
"They were all different people, with different experiences, and different lengths of services. They were men and women," Mr Gatt said.
"But they shared one thing in common, and that is that on one day they graduated at Glen Waverley.
"They made the decision and took an oath to serve the Victorian community, and they did that oath proud."
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