RUGBY playing colleagues, police chiefs and the Prime Minister have expressed tributes after an officer was shot dead.

Sergeant Matiu Ratana was killed by a gunshot at Croydon police station in the early hours of this morning.

News of his killing have shocked the nation.

The Argus:

Mr Ratana, known by friends as Matt, lived in Goring, and was the head coach of rugby team Worthing Azurians and Knights until 2017, and later coached East Grinstead.

Read more on this story: Tributes to Worthing police officer shot dead

He was aged 54, and was just two months away from retirement, after serving as an officer since 1991.

Flowers and tributes were left at the scene outside Croydon Custody Centre.

Speaking from the scene a friend who played rugby with the officer at East Grinstead Rugby Club described him as "an inspiration" who was looking forward to retirement.

The Argus:

The 27-year-old, who gave his name as Paul, said: "The man was a machine. He went from training with us last night to come to his shift work here in Croydon.

"He would do that week in and week out."

Prime Minister Boris Johnson was among those who reacted to the news on Friday morning.

He said: "My deepest condolences go to the family, friends and colleagues of the police officer who was killed in Croydon last night.

"We owe a huge debt to those who risk their own lives to keep us safe."

The Argus:

The Metropolitan Police has launched a murder inquiry. It is believed a man shot Sgt Ratana before turning a gun on himself.

A 23-year-old suspect remains in a serious condition in hospital, the force said.

Sgt Ratana is the eighth police officer in the UK to be shot dead in the last 20 years and the first to be murdered by a firearm in the line of duty since PCs Fiona Bone, 32, and Nicola Hughes, 23, in September 2012.

They were murdered by Dale Cregan in a gun and grenade attack while responding to a report of a burglary in Greater Manchester.

The Met sergeant is the 17th from the force to be killed by a firearm since the end of the Second World War, according to the National Police Memorial roll of honour.

Read more on this story: Tributes to Worthing police officer shot dead

Unarmed PC Keith Palmer, who was stabbed in March 2017 by terrorist Khalid Masood during the Westminster Bridge attack, was the last Met officer to be killed in the line of duty.

The roll of honour includes PC Andrew Harper, who died when he was caught in a tow rope and dragged along country lanes after trying to stop quad bike thieves in Berkshire in August 2019.

His widow Lissie Harper, who is campaigning for a change to the law which would see all those convicted of killing emergency workers receive a life sentence, said: "This is devastating news.

The Argus:

"No person should go to work never to return. No human being should be stripped of their life in a barbaric act of crime.

"Another hero has been taken from us in unwarranted violence."

Tributes and mesages have flooded in from  across the country and flags have been flown at half mast at police stations.