Young constable who died in crash to be farewelled

Constable Mia Lay, a 20-year-old police officer, was laid to rest following a fatal car accident. She had served with NSW Police for just 16 months before the incident occurred. The marked vehicle she was travelling in crashed into a tree in Redfern, Sydney, on September 25. A funeral service for Const Lay is set to be held at St Andrew's Cathedral in central Sydney on Wednesday.

Her death was mourned on National Police Remembrance Day on September 29, which NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley described as a "dark day." At the service, NSW Premier Chris Minns paid tribute to her, describing her as "talented, optimistic, calm under pressure" and an excellent athlete who had chosen to serve her community. Minns noted that it is a "reminder that we ask our police officers to grow up incredibly quickly," as they often enter the profession much earlier than their peers, who may be focusing on education or apprenticeships.

Const Lay's name will be added to the National Police Memorial in Canberra in 2027, where 832 names are engraved in honor of police officers who have lost their lives since records began in 1803. A police march will follow the funeral service along Bathurst Street, starting outside the cathedral in Sydney's city centre.