National Police Remembrance Day was celebrated with a local service held at the Taree Baptist Church.

The service paid tribute to serving members of the NSW Police who have died in the past year and also those who have given their lives before them.

Retired officers who have died in the past year were also remembered during the annual ceremony.

The service also incorporated NSW Retired Police Day, which honoured officers from the Manning Great Lakes command who have retired in the past year.

Inspector Christine George was the master of ceremonies, while Police chaplain Chris Thornhill addressed those in attendance throughout the service.

Manning Great Lakes Police Commander Peter Thurtell also addressed those in attendance, paying tribute to the many officers who have given their lives in the call of duty.

"It's a day of great significance to all police, and we gather to honour the sacrifice 252 officers have made who were killed in the line of duty," he said.

"It's important for family and friends and their colleagues to have an opportunity to remember them."

Judy Mulheron was one of those in attendance whose loved one was killed in the line of duty.

Her son Glenn McEnallay was killed during a highway patrol at Mascot in March 2002.

Glenn grew up in Forster before joining the NSW Police in 2007 at the age of 21.

His proud mother lit a candle in remembrance of his young life during Monday's service, and said the day was a fitting tribute for fallen policeman like her son.

"It's a sad day, but a proud day at the same time and it's very emotional," she said.

"You have tears when you light the candle and it's a proud feeling but also a sad feeling.

"And with recognising the retired policeman, it's nice that all police officers are remembered not just the fallen, all past and present police officers."

Mrs Mulheron said her son was always destined to join the force.

"He always wanted to be a policeman, and when he was four or five we were friends with police officers and they used to put handcuffs on him," she said.

"He was a marine mechanic before joining the police and he went in as a mature age recruit at 21.

"He did six months at Goulburn and was then stationed at Mascot."

Retiring officers over the past year from the Manning Great Lakes Police were also honoured for their lifetime of service as part of the NSW Retired Police Day.

Each of the 32 retirees at the service were presented with commemorative pins by Manning Great Lakes Police Commander Peter Thurtell.

Commander Thurtell said it was out of necessity that the two days were combined.

"We didn't have a chance to hold them separately due to our busy operational schedule and this was the only day we could hold both," he said.

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