31/12/2025
âIt has been one year since we lost Lyn under the most tragic circumstances. Her absence is still deeply felt across the Nelson community and our police whÄnau. Our hearts go out especially to Lynâs family today, and to all of her colleagues. She was a deeply loved member of our police family and always will be.â â New Zealand Police Association president Steve Watt.
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Today we remember Senior Sergeant Lyn Fleming, who died after being struck early on 1 January 2025, when a vehicle was driven at speed into several police officers who were on foot patrol in central Nelson, injuring three of them.
Senior Sergeant Fleming (62) died less than 12 hours later â becoming New Zealandâs first female police officer killed in the line of duty and the first officer in Nelson. Her colleague, Senior Sergeant Adam Ramsay, was seriously injured and another officer was concussed.
Lynâs policing career of more than 38 years began in 1986 as a traffic officer in Auckland. She moved across to Police in 1992 alongside her husband, Bryn, when the organisations merged, and the couple soon moved to Nelson.
Lyn spent 32 years on the frontline in Nelson, moving up the ranks â to sergeant in 2003 and senior sergeant 10 years later â and working in a variety of roles including district operations and deployment, and as the tactical group supervisor. She spent the past 7½ years as Nelson Bays area response manager, responsible for all the PST, custodial and front counter staff in Nelson.
Her supervisorsâ comments throughout her career showed she had the highest levels of integrity and professionalism. Lyn was a leader who inspired confidence and cared deeply about her team. She did so much for so many people, and leaves an enduring legacy and example for us all to follow.
Our thoughts today are with Lynâs family â her husband Bryn; children, Rayna and Aren; parents, Ray and Colleen; and siblings, Woody, Carol, and Jo â as well as her friends and colleagues who continue to grieve. Thank you for your service, Lyn. You will always be remembered.